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• terrier
  terrier

  noun

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

  noun

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

terrier

¹ American  

[ter-ee-er] / ˈtɛr i ər /

noun

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

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

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terrier ² American  

[ter-ee-er] / ˈtɛr i ər /

noun

Law.

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

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Terrier ¹ British  

/ ˈtɛrɪə /

noun

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

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terrier ² British  

/ ˈtɛrɪə /

noun

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

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terrier ³ British  

/ ˈtɛrɪə /

noun

1. English legal history a register or survey of land

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Etymology

Origin of terrier¹

1400–50; < Middle French, short for chien terrier literally, dog of the earth (< Medieval Latin terrārius; see terra, -ier ²); so called because used to start badgers from their burrows; replacing late Middle English terrere < Anglo-French ( see -er ²)

Origin of terrier²

1470–80; < Middle French, short for registre terrier register of land (< Medieval Latin terrārius; see terra, -ier ²); replacing earlier terrere < Anglo-French ( see -er ²

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Explanation

A terrier is a type of dog. Terriers are usually brave, strong, small dogs with wiry coats. In The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy's dog Toto is a terrier. Most terriers have short, muscular bodies. There is a lot of variety in the terrier group, though—from fuzzy, 70-pound Airedale terriers to smooth-coated, 25-pound Boston terriers. Terriers were originally bred to hunt small animals like rats and foxes. Terrier comes from the Old French chien terrier, or "earth dog," a reference to the terrier's willingness to follow its prey into underground burrows if necessary.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

terrier Terrier

Her nan grabbed her "blind and diabetic" Yorkshire terrier Molly and pet budgie before leaving the property, said Jade.

From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026

In 2019, Emma McNulty's 14-year-old terrier Millie died suddenly.

From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026

In Boston, Marybeth Oskowski turned to acupuncture as part of a treatment plan for her terrier mix, Maddie, following a spinal injury.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 17, 2026

Then there was the time her pit bull terrier, Thor, barked at a cat outside, jolting the feline skyward.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 5, 2026

The sentry unbarred the door, and his terrier dæmon quivered as the three figures maneuvered their burden with difficulty through the narrow entrance.

From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman

Terrier put his side in front on the half-hour mark, latching onto a rebounded Schick attempt before curling a shot into the top-left corner.

From Barron's ● Feb. 3, 2026

Martin Terrier, Patrik Schick and Jonas Hofmann scored as Bayer Leverkusen moved past St Pauli 3-0 at home on Tuesday to reach the German Cup semi-finals.

From Barron's ● Feb. 3, 2026

Isabelle Boffey ran the second fastest ever indoor 800m by a British athlete as she clocked one minute 57.43 seconds to win at the BU Terrier Classic in Boston.

From BBC ● Jan. 31, 2026

“Lulu is my darling little Border Terrier, who died,” he responds.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 4, 2023

"Lost, at Bestwood, Saturday, Irish Terrier Dog, finder rewarded, dead or alive."

From Punch, or The London Charivari, Vol. 150, May 31, 1916 by Various

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