Meanings
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1
noun
an old breed of powerful deep-chested smooth-coated dog used chiefly as a watchdog and guard dog
A mastiff guarded the gate after sunset.
Etymology
From Middle English mastif, mastyf, an aberrant derivation (with influence from Old French mestif) from Old French mastin (modern French mâtin), from Vulgar Latin *mansuetinus (“tamed (animal)”), from Latin mansuetus (“tamed”).