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mastiff Definition

mas·tiff (mas′tif)

noun

any of a breed of large, powerful dog with hanging lips and drooping ears and having a short, thick, often fawn-colored coat, dark on the muzzle, nose, and ears: formerly used for hunting, now often a watchdog and guard dog

Etymology: ME mastif < OFr mastin < VL *mansuetinus < L mansuetus, tame; ME form infl. by OFr mestif, a mongrel < L mixtus, mixed: see mix

mastiff Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • have: One of my clients has a bull mastiff x staff, its a boy and about the size of a lab and weighs 43kg.
  • name: At one time he possessed a large mastiff named Lion, which he disposed of to a stranger.

Adjective modifier

  • English: The English took to Russia mainly prized English woolen cloth ( but also English mastiffs!
  • large: At one time he possessed a large mastiff named Lion, which he disposed of to a stranger.
  • huge: In this case the animal was a huge black mastiff, with glaring eyes and red eyelids.
  • black: His crew of cutthroats cringed as he walked the decks with his two black mastiffs at his heels.
  • old: It tends to go down rather unfavorably with my 11 month old Neapolitan mastiff!

Modifies a noun

  • dog: These dogs may then have been crossed with mastiff type dogs to produce even larger dogs.
  • type: These dogs may then have been crossed with mastiff type dogs to produce even larger dogs.

Noun used with modifier

  • bull: One of my clients has a bull mastiff x staff, its a boy and about the size of a lab and weighs 43kg.
  • Neapolitan: It tends to go down rather unfavorably with my 11 month old Neapolitan mastiff!
mastiff Quotes

Thisisthetrustymastiffthat istowatchoverourinterests, but which runs awayat the first snarl of the trade unions. A mastiff? It is the right honourable gentleman's poodle. It fetches and carries for him. It barks for him. It bites anybody that he sets it on.

—Lloyd George (of Dwyfor), David, 1st Earl