terrier

¹

[ ter-ee-er ]

noun

1. any of several breeds of usually small dogs, used originally to pursue game and drive it out of its hole or burrow.
2. (initial capital letter) U.S. Military. a surface-to-air, two-stage antiaircraft missile.

terrier

²

[ ter-ee-er ]

noun

, Law.

1. a book or document in which are described the site, boundaries, acreage, tenants, etc., of certain lands.

terrier

¹

/ ˈtɛrɪə /

noun

1. English legal history a register or survey of land

Terrier

²

/ ˈtɛrɪə /

noun

1. informal.
   a member of the British Army's Territorial and Volunteer Reserve

terrier

³

/ ˈtɛrɪə /

noun

1. any of several usually small, active, and short-bodied breeds of dog, originally trained to hunt animals living underground

Word History and Origins

Origin of terrier¹

1400–50; < Middle French, short for chien terrier literally, dog of the earth (< Medieval Latin terrārius; terra, -ier ² ); so called because used to start badgers from their burrows; replacing late Middle English terrere < Anglo-French ( -er ² )

Origin of terrier²

1470–80; < Middle French, short for registre terrier register of land (< Medieval Latin terrārius; terra, -ier ² ); replacing earlier terrere < Anglo-French ( -er ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of terrier¹

C15: from Old French, from Medieval Latin terrārius of the land, from Latin terra land

Origin of terrier²

C15: from Old French chien terrier earth dog, from Medieval Latin terrārius belonging to the earth, from Latin terra earth

Example Sentences

Abruzzo cradled his delivery, a 10-week-old Boston terrier that had made its way from an Indiana breeder to a broker, then to a crate inside his transport van.

From Los Angeles Times

The child's mother described how the Staffordshire bull terrier pulled her daughter to the floor and bit off the tip of her nose at a flat in Glasgow in June 2022.

From BBC

She lives in Vermont with her husband and four boisterous terriers.

From Los Angeles Times

Specific dog breeds at increased risk include chow chows, bulldogs, French bulldogs, dogue de Bordeaux, greyhounds, boxers, English springer spaniels, Cavalier King Charles spaniels, pugs, golden retrievers and Staffordshire bull terriers.

From Los Angeles Times

The story of the faithful terrier which kept returning to its master's grave for 14 years after his death became known across the world.

From BBC