American Staffordshire terrier

[ uh-mer-i-kuhn staf-erd-sheer ter-ee-er, ‐sher ]

noun

1. one of an American breed of strong, muscular terriers, originally developed in England, with a short, close-lying, stiff coat of any color or combination of colors except solid white.

Word History and Origins

Origin of American Staffordshire terrier¹

First recorded in 1965–70; its earlier name, the Staffordshire terrier, was first recorded in 1935–40; and the variant pit bull terrier was first recorded in 1940–45