terrier

¹

[ ter-ee-er ]

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) U.S. Military. a surface-to-air, two-stage antiaircraft missile.

terrier

²

[ ter-ee-er ]

noun

, Law.

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

terrier

¹

/ ˈtɛrɪə /

noun

1. English legal history a register or survey of land

Terrier

²

/ ˈtɛrɪə /

noun

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

terrier

³

/ ˈtɛrɪə /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of terrier¹

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

Origin of terrier²

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of terrier¹

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

Origin of terrier²

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

Example Sentences

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.

From 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.

From Time

Fancy, a terrier mix, hobbled over to Sally, who picked her up for a cuddle.

From 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.

From Washington Post

In spring 2006, Debbie King adopted a 1-year-old terrier mix from Pet Rescue of Maryland.

From Washington Post

He also said police intend to put their beloved family pet, a Staffordshire bull terrier named Excalibur, to sleep.

From The Daily Beast

At Westminster Kennel Club, wire fox terrier Sky wins Best in Show.

From The Daily Beast

For the past 140 years, a noble-looking, bronze Skye terrier has stood guard outside the grounds and watched over the kirkyard.

From The Daily Beast

If David is a yapping terrier, Pete is an addled golden retriever.

From The 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.

From The Daily Beast

Growling horribly, the enraged brute seized poor Pearson and shook him as a terrier dog shakes a rat.

From Project Gutenberg

I first became aware of it about the same time the Dachshund at the corner house began to declare he was an Aberdeen Terrier.

From Project Gutenberg

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.

From Project Gutenberg

Stolidly with unheedful, drooping ears the little fox-terrier resumed his seat on the rug.

From Project Gutenberg

He was very short, and at a distance much resembled a terrier, his head being considerably like that of a dog.

From Project Gutenberg