Definition of terrier
: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
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Recent Examples of terrier from the Web
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The Terriers then methodically drove the field behind a 15-yard pass from quarterback Andre Robison to receiver Jacorey Wells.
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Will the Terriers wind up being the toast of the league like Leicester City?
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Throughout the afternoon, more than 50 pooches — from golden labs who boldly dove in after tennis balls to tiny terriers who waded into the water with a bit more trepidation — provided their human companions with quite a show.
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With the White House closed tours after the 9/11 attacks, staffers for President George W. Bush created a web show about First Dog Barney, the Scottish terrier, to great acclaim.
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The officers claimed on their report that the animals - two Staffordshire terriers - charged them.
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President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s had his beloved terrier Fala.
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The young Scot snatched a point for the Terriers in injury time, sparking scenes of jubilation from the traveling supporters.
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The one-and-a-half-year-old terrier mix was abandoned by his owner and rescued from a shelter in Colorado.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'terrier.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Illustration of terrier
Origin and Etymology of terrier
Middle English terryer, terrer, from Anglo-French (chen) terrer, literally, earth dog, from terre earth, from Latin terra
TERRIER Defined for English Language Learners
terrier
play
noun
Definition of terrier for English Language Learners
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: a type of small dog originally used for hunting
TERRIER Defined for Kids
terrier
play
noun
ter·ri·er
\
ˈter-ē-ər
\
Definition of terrier for Students
:a usually small dog originally used by hunters to force animals from their holes
History for terrier
Terriers were first used in hunting. Their job was to dig for small animals and force them from their holes. The word terrier comes from a medieval French phrase chen terrer (or chien terrier), literally, “earth dog.” The terr- in terrier comes ultimately from Latin terra, “earth.”
Learn More about terrier
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See words that rhyme with terrier Spanish Central: Translation of terrier Nglish: Translation of terrier for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about terrier
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