Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Terrier
Ter′ri-er
,Noun.
[CF. L.
terere
to rub, to rub away, terebra
a borer.] An auger or borer.
[Obs.]
Ter′ri-er
,Noun.
1.
[F.
terrier
, chien terrier
, from terre
the earth, L. terra
; cf. F. terrier
a burrow, LL. terrarium
a hillock (hence the sense, a mound thrown up in making a burrow, a burrow). See Terrace
, and cf. Terrier
, 2.] (Zool.)
One of a breed of small dogs, which includes several distinct subbreeds, some of which, such as the Skye terrier and Yorkshire terrier, have long hair and drooping ears, while others, at the English and the black-and-tan terriers, have short, close, smooth hair and upright ears.
☞ Most kinds of terriers are noted for their courage, the acuteness of their sense of smell, their propensity to hunt burrowing animals, and their activity in destroying rats, etc. See
Fox terrier
, under Fox
. 2.
[F.
terrier
, papier terrier
, LL. terrarius liber
, i.e., a book belonging or pertaining to land or landed estates. See Terrier
, 1, and cf. Terrar
.] (Law)
(a)
Formerly, a collection of acknowledgments of the vassals or tenants of a lordship, containing the rents and services they owed to the lord, and the like.
(b)
In modern usage, a book or roll in which the lands of private persons or corporations are described by their site, boundaries, number of acres, or the like.
[Written also
terrar
.] Webster 1828 Edition
Terrier
TER'RIER
,Noun.
1.
A lodge or hole where certain animals, as foxes, rabbits, badgers and the like, secure themselves.2.
Originally, a collection of acknowledgments of the vassals or tenants of a lordship, containing the rents and services they owed to the lord, &c.; at present, a book or roll in which the lands of private persons or corporations are described by their site, boundaries, number of acres, &c.3.
A wimble, auger or borer. [L. tero.]