rat terrier

American

noun

a terrier of any of several breeds developed especially for catching rats, as the Manchester terrier.

Etymology

Origin of rat terrier

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“I don’t know anyone who could contest that she is the strongest rat terrier in the world,” says Quinn.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 20, 2025

Phoebe Yung of Brooklyn adopted a pandemic pup, a rat terrier named Moose.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 19, 2022

I just did the ancestry thing, and she’s mainly Australian shepherd, Chihuahua and rat terrier.

From New York Times • Sep. 24, 2021

A miniature Chihuahua and rat terrier mix, Midge joined the Sheriff’s Office in early 2006 as a pup, from a litter owned by a department employee.

From Washington Times • Apr. 19, 2021

Then provide yourself with a small rat terrier, and keep him in your house at night.

From Rural Architecture Being a Complete Description of Farm Houses, Cottages, and Out Buildings by Allen, Lewis Falley

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023