Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Terrier
Ter′ri-er
,Noun.
[CF. L.
terere
to rub, to rub away, terebra
a borer.] An auger or borer.
[Obs.]
Ter′ri-er
,Noun.
1.
[F.
terrier
, chien terrier
, from terre
the earth, L. terra
; cf. F. terrier
a burrow, LL. terrarium
a hillock (hence the sense, a mound thrown up in making a burrow, a burrow). See Terrace
, and cf. Terrier
, 2.] (Zool.)
One of a breed of small dogs, which includes several distinct subbreeds, some of which, such as the Skye terrier and Yorkshire terrier, have long hair and drooping ears, while others, at the English and the black-and-tan terriers, have short, close, smooth hair and upright ears.
☞ Most kinds of terriers are noted for their courage, the acuteness of their sense of smell, their propensity to hunt burrowing animals, and their activity in destroying rats, etc. See
Fox terrier
, under Fox
. 2.
[F.
terrier
, papier terrier
, LL. terrarius liber
, i.e., a book belonging or pertaining to land or landed estates. See Terrier
, 1, and cf. Terrar
.] (Law)
(a)
Formerly, a collection of acknowledgments of the vassals or tenants of a lordship, containing the rents and services they owed to the lord, and the like.
(b)
In modern usage, a book or roll in which the lands of private persons or corporations are described by their site, boundaries, number of acres, or the like.
[Written also
terrar
.] Webster 1828 Edition
Terrier
TER'RIER
,Noun.
1.
A lodge or hole where certain animals, as foxes, rabbits, badgers and the like, secure themselves.2.
Originally, a collection of acknowledgments of the vassals or tenants of a lordship, containing the rents and services they owed to the lord, &c.; at present, a book or roll in which the lands of private persons or corporations are described by their site, boundaries, number of acres, &c.3.
A wimble, auger or borer. [L. tero.]Definition 2024
terrier
terrier
English
Alternative forms
- tarrier (obsolete) (the dog)
Noun
terrier (plural terriers)
- A dog from a group of small, lively breeds, originally bred for the hunting of burrowing prey such as rats, rabbits, foxes, and even otters; this original function is reflected in some of their names (e.g. rat terrier).
- (law, historical) A collection of acknowledgments of the vassals or tenants of a lordship, containing the rents and services they owed to the lord, etc.
- (law) A book or roll in which the lands of private persons or corporations are described by their site, boundaries, number of acres, etc.; a terrar.
Derived terms
Derived terms
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Related terms
Related terms
Coordinate terms
Translations
dog
Etymology 2
Compare Latin terere (“to rub, to rub away”), terebra (“a borer”).
Noun
terrier (plural terriers)
References
- “terrier” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary (2001).
- Webster's Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary, Springfield, Massachusetts, G.&C. Merriam Co., 1967
Anagrams
Danish
Noun
terrier c (singular definite terrieren, plural indefinite terriere)
- terrier (a small breed of dog)
Declension
Inflection of terrier
| common gender |
Singular | Plural | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| indefinite | definite | indefinite | definite | |
| nominative | terrier | terrieren | terriere | terrierne |
| genitive | terriers | terrierens | terrieres | terriernes |
References
- “terrier” in Den Danske Ordbog
French
Etymology
From Medieval Latin terrarius "of earth," from Latin terra "earth". Most terrier breeds were developed to hunt vermin both over and under the ground.
Pronunciation
Adjective
terrier m (feminine singular terrière, masculine plural terriers, feminine plural terrières)
- (archaic) relating to the ground, earth or land
- enumerating seignorial rights, notably in livre terrier (a register of land)
Derived terms
- chien terrier (“terrier dog”)
- chienne terrier (“terrier bitch”)
- livre terrier (“land register”)
- papier terrier (“register of landed property”)
- plan terrier (“land-use plan”)
Noun
terrier m (plural terriers)
Derived terms
- terrier de blaireau
- terrier de lapin
- terrier de renard
- sortir de son terrier (“break cover”)
- vivre dans son terrier (“live on one's own”)
References
- Nouveau Petit Larousse illustré. Dictionnaire encyclopédique. Paris, Librairie Larousse, 1952, 146th edition