mastiff

[ mas-tif, mah-stif ]

/ ˈmæs tɪf, ˈmɑ stɪf /

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noun

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

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Origin of mastiff

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 (see mansuetude)

Words nearby mastiff

mast house, mastic, masticate, mastication, masticatory, mastiff, mastiff bat, mastigium, Mastigophora, mastigophoran, masting

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use mastiff in a sentence

In one of the three outdoor yards, I horsed around with Dixie Do, a mom mastiff, and her two sons, Jake and Ivan.
In Tennessee, the Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary welcomes two-legged visitors|Andrea Sachs|October 29, 2021|Washington Post
The couple threw a few pairs of underwear in a bag, then loaded Brighton and their other mastiff, Reese, in the truck.
The Long-Lasting Mental Health Effects of Wildfires|Jane C. Hu|December 3, 2020|Outside Online
These animals, including a large mastiff, belonging to a nobleman in the place, had a practice of going regularly to church.
Minnie's Pet Dog|Madeline Leslie
Great was his astonishment on opening the library door, to find the mastiff stretched in front of it.
The Animal Story Book|Various

Black Nero was a magnificent mastiff, with not a white hair on his back.
Fifty-Two Stories For Girls|Various
Laying his hand on the big mastiff's neck, Franz struck directly away from the school.
Rescue Dog of the High Pass|James Arthur Kjelgaard
The big mastiff settled himself to wait until his master saw fit to rejoin him.
Rescue Dog of the High Pass|James Arthur Kjelgaard

British Dictionary definitions for mastiff

mastiff

/ (ˈmæstɪf) /

noun

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

Word Origin for mastiff

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012