terrier

Meaning

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).
• Someone displaying terrier-like qualities.
• A collection of acknowledgments of the vassals or tenants of a lordship, containing the rents and services they owed to the lord, etc.
• An inventory (book or roll) in which the lands of private persons or corporations are described by their site, boundaries, number of acres, etc.; a terrar.
• An auger or borer.

Origin

• Borrowed from Middle French, from Old French chien terrier ("terrier dog") from chien + Old French terrier (from Medieval Latin terrarius ("of earth") from Latin terra ("earth")).
• Compare Latin terō ("to rub, to rub away"), terebra.