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
also called Old English mastiff
Origin of mastiff
Middle English mastif from Old French mastin from Vulgar Latin an unverified form mansuetinus from Classical Latin mansuetus, tame; Middle English form influenced, influence by Old French mestif, a mongrel from Classical Latin mixtus, mixed: see mix
