terrier

C1 Topic:People & Society

US /ˈtɛɹiə(ɹ)/ See IPA manual

Freq #24153

Meanings

1

noun
Someone displaying terrier-like qualities such as determined pursuit.

One of the LNER dispatch staff is a terrier when it comes to masks, challenging anyone without them.
2

noun
any of several usually small short-bodied breeds originally trained to hunt animals living underground
3

noun
A dog from a group of small, lively breeds, originally bred for the hunting of burrowing prey such as rats, rabbits, foxes, and even otters; this original function is reflected in some of their names (e.g. rat terrier).
4

noun
A collection of acknowledgments of the vassals or tenants of a lordship, containing the rents and services they owed to the lord, etc.

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

bull terrier
a strong, short-haired terrier breed developed from bulldogs and other terriers

Noun + noun

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French, from Old French chien terrier (“terrier dog”), from chien (“dog”) + Old French terrier (“of earth”, adjective), from Medieval Latin terrarius (“of earth”), from Latin terra (“earth”).

Topics

People & Society Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# terrier

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈtɛɹiə(ɹ)/
**Frequency rank:** 24153

## Meanings
1. Someone displaying terrier-like qualities such as determined pursuit.
2. any of several usually small short-bodied breeds originally trained to hunt animals living underground
3. A dog from a group of small, lively breeds, originally bred for the hunting of burrowing prey such as rats, rabbits, foxes, and even otters; this original function is reflected in some of their names (e.g. rat terrier).
4. A collection of acknowledgments of the vassals or tenants of a lordship, containing the rents and services they owed to the lord, etc.

## Examples
- One of the LNER dispatch staff is a terrier when it comes to masks, challenging anyone without them.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French, from Old French chien terrier (“terrier dog”), from chien (“dog”) + Old French terrier (“of earth”, adjective), from Medieval Latin terrarius (“of earth”), from Latin terra (“earth”).

## Topics
- People & Society
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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