terrier

[ ter-ee-er ]

/ ˈtɛr i ər /

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noun

any of several breeds of usually small dogs, used originally to pursue game and drive it out of its hole or burrow.

(initial capital letter)U.S. Military. a surface-to-air, two-stage antiaircraft missile.

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Origin of terrier

1400–50; <Middle French, short for chien terrier literally, dog of the earth (<Medieval Latin terrārius;see terra, -ier²); so called because used to start badgers from their burrows; replacing late Middle English terrere<Anglo-French (see -er²)

Words nearby terrier

Terri, terrible, terrible twos, terribly, terricolous, terrier, terrific, terrify, terrifying, terrigenous, terrine

Other definitions for terrier (2 of 2)

terrier²

[ ter-ee-er ]

/ ˈtɛr i ər /

noun Law.

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

Origin of terrier

1470–80; <Middle French, short for registre terrier register of land (<Medieval Latin terrārius;see terra, -ier²); replacing earlier terrere<Anglo-French (see -er²

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use terrier in a sentence

Jo has been “hiking” several times a week since she was 11 days old, though most of our hikes are short jaunts on trails near our home aimed at tiring out our terrier mix.
I Don’t Care if Your Toddler Climbs a Mountain|lwhelan|November 11, 2021|Outside Online
The two were newly engaged, and Kurulgan says his bride-to-be had been looking forward to adopting one of the puppies—particularly a mixed-breed terrier named Peggy who was the outcast of her siblings.
There's a Travel Ban on Dogs From More Than 100 Countries, and You Can Blame COVID-19|Melissa Chan|November 10, 2021|Time
Fancy, a terrier mix, hobbled over to Sally, who picked her up for a cuddle.
In Tennessee, the Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary welcomes two-legged visitors|Andrea Sachs|October 29, 2021|Washington Post
Thank you, Chica, our sweet terrier mix from Puerto Rico, for every night you knew to curl up just behind my knees when I couldn’t fall asleep, fretting about school and riots and my family.
Zoom dates? Election nights? Sourdough? Nope. Dogs are the heroes of this pandemic.|Petula Dvorak|January 25, 2021|Washington Post

In spring 2006, Debbie King adopted a 1-year-old terrier mix from Pet Rescue of Maryland.
The name game: For these pets, inspiration came in many forms|John Kelly|November 23, 2020|Washington Post
He also said police intend to put their beloved family pet, a Staffordshire bull terrier named Excalibur, to sleep.
Ebola in Europe: What Went Wrong|Barbie Latza Nadeau|October 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At Westminster Kennel Club, wire fox terrier Sky wins Best in Show.
Up to a Point: P.J. O’Rourke on Valentine’s Day and Oral Hygiene|P. J. O’Rourke|February 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For the past 140 years, a noble-looking, bronze Skye terrier has stood guard outside the grounds and watched over the kirkyard.
Welcome to the Most Haunted Graveyard in the World. Safety Not Guaranteed.|Nina Strochlic|October 31, 2013|DAILY BEAST
If David is a yapping terrier, Pete is an addled golden retriever.
‘Family Tree’ Brings Christopher Guest’s Mockumentary Style to HBO|Jace Lacob|May 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Justin, a 4-year-old West Highland terrier from Long Island, was having his face hair-sprayed into the shape of a carnation.
Backstage at the 2013 Westminster Dog Show, Won by Banana Joe|Isabel Wilkinson|February 13, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Growling horribly, the enraged brute seized poor Pearson and shook him as a terrier dog shakes a rat.
Hunting the Lions|R.M. Ballantyne
I first became aware of it about the same time the Dachshund at the corner house began to declare he was an Aberdeen Terrier.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 147, November 4, 1914|Various
He drew up his spare person, with a terrier-like shake of the head and shoulders, as of one repudiating Mammon and all its works.
Marriage la mode|Mrs. Humphry Ward
Stolidly with unheedful, drooping ears the little fox-terrier resumed his seat on the rug.
Molly Make-Believe|Eleanor Hallowell Abbott
He was very short, and at a distance much resembled a terrier, his head being considerably like that of a dog.
Buffon's Natural History. Volume IX (of 10)|Georges Louis Leclerc de Buffon

British Dictionary definitions for terrier (1 of 3)

terrier¹

/ (ˈtɛrɪə) /

noun

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

Word Origin for terrier

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

British Dictionary definitions for terrier (2 of 3)

terrier²

/ (ˈtɛrɪə) /

noun

English legal history a register or survey of land

Word Origin for terrier

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

British Dictionary definitions for terrier (3 of 3)

Terrier

/ (ˈtɛrɪə) /

noun

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

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