terrier

(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

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

See terrier in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

Any of several typically small, active breeds of hunting dog originally developed for driving game from burrows.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old French (chien) terrier, ground (dog), terrier

Origin: , from Medieval Latin terrārius, of the earth

Origin: , from Latin terra; see ters- in Indo-European roots

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