terrier

terrier
terrier1
/ter"ee euhr/, n.
1. any of several breeds of usually small dogs, used originally to pursue game and drive it out of its hole or burrow.
2. (cap.) U.S. Mil. a surface-to-air, two-stage antiaircraft missile.
[1400-50; < MF, short for chien terrier lit., dog of the earth ( < ML terrarius; see TERRA, -IER2); so called because used to start badgers from their burrows; r. late ME terrere < AF (see -ER2)]
terrier2
/ter"ee euhr/, n. Law.
a book or document in which are described the site, boundaries, acreage, tenants, etc., of certain lands.
[1470-80; < MF, short for registre terrier register of land ( < ML terrarius; see TERRA, -IER2); r. earlier terrere < AF (see -ER2]

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I
Any of several dog breeds developed, mostly in England, to find and kill vermin and for use in the sports of foxhunting and dog fighting.

Bred to fight and kill, they often were pugnacious but are now bred for a friendlier temperament. Because terriers had to fit in rodent burrows, most breeds are small and lean and have a rough, wiry coat that requires little maintenance. They have a long head, square jaw, and deep-set eyes. All terriers are vocal and inclined to chase and confront. Most breeds were named for the place where they were developed. See also Airedale terrier, Bedlington terrier, Boston terrier, bull terrier, Dandie Dinmont terrier, fox terrier, Irish terrier, pit bull terrier, Scottish terrier, Yorkshire terrier.
II
(as used in expressions)

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • terrier — 1. (tè rié ; l r ne se lie jamais) adj. m. 1°   Terme de féodalité. Papier terrier, registre contenant le dénombrement des particuliers qui relevaient d une seigneurie et de leurs redevances ou obligations. •   Dites aux femmes ce que c est que… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • Terrier — Ter ri*er, n. 1. [F. terrier, chien terrier, from terre the earth, L. terra; cf. F. terrier a burrow, LL. terrarium a hillock (hence the sense, a mound thrown up in making a burrow, a burrow). See {Terrace}, and cf. {Terrier}, 2.] (Zo[ o]l.) One… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Terrier — Sm (eine Hunderasse) erw. fach. (19. Jh.) Entlehnung. Entlehnt aus ne. terrier, dieses aus frz. chien terrier der zur Erde gehörige Hund . Gemeint ist eine Hunderasse, die die Jagdtiere bis in die Höhle verfolgt (vor allem Foxterrier).    Ebenso… …   Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen sprache

  • terrier — (n.) mid 15c., from O.Fr. chien terrier terrier dog, lit. earth dog, from M.L. terrarius of earth, from L. terra earth (see TERRAIN (Cf. terrain)). So called because the dogs pursue their quarry (foxes, badgers, etc.) into their burrows …   Etymology dictionary

  • terrier — [ter′ē ər] n. [ME terrere < MFr (chien) terrier, hunting (dog) < terrier, hillock, burrow < ML terrarius, of earth < L terra, TERRA] any member of several breeds of generally small and typically aggressive dog, orig. bred to rout… …   English World dictionary

  • terrier — Terrier, C est une caverne dans terre où les connils font leur retraicte, leur tasniere et repaire. On dit aussi le terrier d un renard. Pour la cachette et tasniere d iceluy par mesmes raison …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

  • terrier — ► NOUN 1) a small breed of dog originally used for turning out foxes and other animals from their earths. 2) a tenacious or eager person. ORIGIN from Old French chien terrier earth dog …   English terms dictionary

  • Terrier — Ter ri*er, n. [CF. L. terere to rub, to rub away, terebra a borer.] An auger or borer. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Terrĭer — (engl.), Hunderasse, s. Hund, S. 646 …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Terrier — Terrĭer, engl. Hunderasse, s. Foxterrier …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • Terrier — Le nom vient bien sûr de terre, mais il est difficile de savoir ce qu il désigne au juste : une butte sans doute (toponyme), mais peut être aussi le tenancier d une terre …   Noms de famille

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