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terrier definition

ter·rier (ter′ē ər)

noun

any member of several breeds of generally small and typically aggressive dog, orig. bred to rout vermin and small game animals from their lairs

Etymology: ME terrere < MFr (chien) terrier, hunting (dog) < terrier, hillock, burrow < ML terrarius, of earth < L terra, terra

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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