tosa

British  

/ ˈtəʊsə /

noun

1. a large dog, usually red in colour, which is a cross between a mastiff and a Great Dane: originally developed for dog-fighting; it is not recognized as a breed by kennel clubs outside Japan

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Etymology

Origin of tosa

C20: from the name of a province of the island of Shikoku, Japan

Example Sentences

The 1991 Act had already banned the ownership of four breeds - the pit bull terrier, the Japanese tosa, dogo argentino and fila brasileiro.

From BBC • Oct. 7, 2025

So-called Section 1 dogs are banned in the UK under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, and also include the American pit bull terrier, Japanese tosa, Dogo Argentinos, and Fila Brazileiro.

From BBC • Jan. 28, 2025

The guidance is similar to that issued for the four breeds which were banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991: the American pit bull terrier, the Japanese tosa, the Dogo Argentinos and the Fila Brazileiro.

From BBC • Oct. 31, 2023

Four breeds of dogs are currently banned in the United Kingdom: the pitbull terrier, the Japanese tosa, the dogo Argentino and the fila Brasileiro.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 15, 2023

In places, too, the surface was streaked with light yellow patches, probably of sun-gilt tosa or pumice.

From To the Gold Coast for Gold A Personal Narrative in Two Volumes.—Volume I by Burton, Richard Francis, Sir