terrier

noun

ter·ri·er ˈter-ē-ər

ˈte-rē-

: any of various usually small energetic dogs originally used by hunters to dig for small game and engage the quarry underground or drive it out

Examples of terrier in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Huskies are independent, terriers are protective, retrievers are playful, greyhounds are aloof — every dog breed has its stereotype. —

Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 18 Aug. 2023 Once a month, Moor, a 400-pound woman who traveled everywhere with an oxygen tank, mask and two Yorkshire terriers, would collect $1,000 from every gang under Torres’ control, the detective testified. —

Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2023 Jake Tapper is saying farewell his 12-year-old Australian terrier, Winston. —

Jill Lupupa, Peoplemag, 4 July 2023 Enter Email Sign Up Cabral, who succeeds former Gamm managing director Amy Gravell, lives in Providence with his husband, Jeffrey Cabral, a Burrillville native, and their rescue rat terriers, Coco and Presley. —

Juliet Pennington, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Sep. 2023 Amber Heard will not face further charges related to bringing her Yorkshire terriers into Australia in 2015. —

Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 24 Aug. 2023 Strays tells the story of Reggie (voiced by Will Ferrell), an adorable terrier abandoned by his unloving owner. —

Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 18 Aug. 2023 Will Ferrell, firmly in Buddy the Elf mode, provides the voice of Reggie, a naive terrier who worships his abusive, largely despicable owner Doug (Will Forte). —

Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 17 Aug. 2023 Just under the royal cypher were two dogs, which likely represent the couple's rescue terriers, Bluebell and Beth. —

Adrianna Freedman, Good Housekeeping, 7 May 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'terrier.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English terryer, terrer, from Anglo-French (chen) terrer, literally, earth dog, from terre earth, from Latin terra

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of terrier was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

Phrases Containing terrier

Cite this Entry

Style

“Terrier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terrier. Accessed 29 Sep. 2023.

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Kids Definition

terrier

noun

ter·ri·er ˈter-ē-ər

: any of various usually small energetic dogs originally used by hunters to drive game animals from their holes

Etymology

Middle English terryer "a small dog used for hunting burrowing animals," from early French (chen) terrer, literally "earth dog," from terre "earth," derived from Latin terra (same meaning)

Word Origin

Today most terriers are kept as pets. However, there was a time when the dogs were widely used for hunting. Terriers are usually small dogs with short legs, and they were used to dig game animals such as foxes, badgers, and weasels out of their holes. The dogs were also trained to go into a hole after a game animal and drive it out. The French name for these dogs was chen terrer, meaning "earth dog." English borrowed only the word terrier, which can be traced back to Latin terra, meaning "earth."