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

The Guinness World Record belongs to a Neapolitan mastiff, who gave birth to a litter of 24 puppies.

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They joked about sending their mastiff to the door next time.

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The runner-up was Viking, a Tibetan mastiff from Romania.

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I will take my French mastiff Rosie for a hike at Fryman Canyon to tucker her out for the day and also just feel like I moved on a Sunday.

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James Strauch, 42, said he eventually started offering landlords £1,000 deposit to let him rent with his four-year-old labrador mastiff cross, Bruno.

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