mastiff

[ mas-tif, mah-stif ]

noun

1. one of a breed of large, powerful, short-haired dogs having an apricot, fawn, or brindled coat.

mastiff

/ ˈmæstɪf /

noun

1. an old breed of large powerful short-haired dog, usually fawn or brindle with a dark mask

Word History and Origins

Origin of mastiff¹

1300–50; Middle English mastif, perhaps extracted from Anglo-French masti ( n ) s (taken as *mastifs ), plural of Old French mastin < Vulgar Latin ( canis ) *ma ( n ) suētīnus, derivative of Latin mansuētus tame, mild ( mansuetude )

Word History and Origins

Origin of mastiff¹

C14: from Old French, ultimately from Latin mansuētus tame; see mansuetude

Example Sentences

In one of the three outdoor yards, I horsed around with Dixie Do, a mom mastiff, and her two sons, Jake and Ivan.

From Washington Post

The couple threw a few pairs of underwear in a bag, then loaded Brighton and their other mastiff, Reese, in the truck.

From Outside Online

These animals, including a large mastiff, belonging to a nobleman in the place, had a practice of going regularly to church.

From Project Gutenberg

Great was his astonishment on opening the library door, to find the mastiff stretched in front of it.

From Project Gutenberg

Black Nero was a magnificent mastiff, with not a white hair on his back.

From Project Gutenberg

Laying his hand on the big mastiff's neck, Franz struck directly away from the school.

From Project Gutenberg

The big mastiff settled himself to wait until his master saw fit to rejoin him.

From Project Gutenberg