terrier Hear it!

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

terrier Synonyms

terrier

n.

Varieties and breeds of terriers include: Irish terrier, Jack Russell terrier, Yorkshire terrier, Cairn terrier, English terrier, black-and-tan terrier, Boston terrier, fox terrier, Scotch terrier, Scottish terrier, Skye terrier, toy terrier, rat terrier, bull terrier, Welsh terrier, Bedlington terrier, West Highland white terrier, Airedale, Sealyham, wire-haired terrier, Lakeland terrier, Kerry blue terrier, Manchester terrier, Dandie Dinmont, Staffordshire bull terrier, schnauzer;

terrier Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • call: The dog was a wire-haired terrier called Tim, the cat was called Monty.
  • use: These men will use a terrier to hold the fox at bay in a particular part of the earth.

Adjective modifier

  • wire-haired: The dog was a wire-haired terrier called Tim, the cat was called Monty.
  • Tibetan: Dandie Dinmont Terrier = Vendeen = Tibetan Terrier = Japanese Chin = Lakeland Terrier 63.
  • pet: Possibly, like his pet terrier, has a little nap after dinner.
  • Scottish: On the strength of seeing your wonderful scottish terriers in Southsea, we bought our own.
  • Irish: I'm thinking of getting an imaginary Irish Terrier.
  • English: He lives in Aylestone with his wife Sue, two cats and an English bull terrier called Chester.

Modifies a noun

  • puppy: York, North Yorkshire, UK KC reg Airedale terrier puppy.
  • racing: There was no terrier racing at Crufts this year.
  • breed: You could be be helping a very old terrier breed survive!
  • dog: They send terrier dogs down into the sett to corner the badger.
  • cross: Toby is a 6 year old fox terrier cross.
  • man: The gasoline expenses of the terrier men might also be included under staff heading.

Noun used with modifier

  • bull: What else do you call someone reading a bull terrier 's blog?
  • Airedale: York, North Yorkshire, UK KC reg Airedale terrier puppy.
  • glebe: In the glebe terrier which he compiled in 1635 Dale stated that he had built the vicarage on the south of the churchyard.
  • cairn: Cairn Terrier = Kerry Blue Terrier = Irish Setter 36.
  • fox: Toby is a 6 year old fox terrier cross.
  • pit: Behind the second hearse was a solitary woman walking a pit bull terrier on a lead.