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Definition of terrier

terrier

/ˈtɛr.i.ər/
ter · ri · er
Plural:terriers
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terrier Lexical Profile

terrier Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A small to medium-sized active dog of a breed originally trained to hunt vermin and burrowing animals by digging into their earths.

Example

"The energetic terrier dug a deep hole in the garden while chasing after a mole."

2

A historical or legal register or survey of a landed estate, detailing its boundaries, ownership, and tenancy.

Example

"The historian carefully examined the sixteenth-century parish terrier to map out the historical boundaries of the glebe lands."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for terrier

• Rhymes for terrier

• Nearby Words

terrible
terribleness
terribly
terrier
terrific
terrifically
terrified

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from the Old French phrase 'chien terrier' (earth dog), coming from the Medieval Latin 'terrarius', which originates from the Latin 'terra' (earth). The name reflects the breed's original purpose of hunting vermin by digging into their underground burrows.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Terrier. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/terrier
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