Mastiff

Mastiff
Mastiff Mas"tiff, n.; pl. {Mastiffs}. [{Mastives} is irregular and unusual.] [Prob. fr. Prov. E. masty, adj., large, n., a great dog, prob. fr. mast fruit, and hence, lit., fattened with mast. There is perh. confusion with OF. mestif mongrel; cf. also F. m[^a]tin mastiff, OF. mastin.] (Zo["o]l.) A breed of large dogs noted for strength and courage. There are various strains, differing in form and color, and characteristic of different countries. [1913 Webster]

{Mastiff bat} (Zo["o]l.), any bat of the genus {Molossus}; so called because the face somewhat resembles that of a mastiff. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Mastiff — Mastiff …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Mastiff — bezeichnet einen (historischen) Hundetyp, siehe Molosser (Hund) gepanzerte Patrouillefahrzeuge Verschiedene molossoide Hunderassen: Mastiff (Ursprung Großbritannien). Alangu Mastiff Alentejo Mastiff Bakharwal Mastiff Brasilianischer Mastiff… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • mastiff — [ mastif ] n. m. • mestif 1611; mot angl., de l a. fr. mastin → mâtin ♦ Chien de garde d une race anglaise, voisin des dogues. Des mastiffs. ● mastiff nom masculin (anglais mastiff) Excellent chien de garde de grande taille appelé aussi dogue… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • mastiff — [mas′tif] n. [ME mastif < OFr mastin < VL * mansuetinus < L mansuetus, tame; ME form infl. by OFr mestif, a mongrel < L mixtus, mixed: see MIX] any of a breed of large, powerful dog with hanging lips and drooping ears and having a… …   English World dictionary

  • Mastiff — Mastiff, eine englische Dogge, s. Hund, S. 647 …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Mastiff — Mastiff, engl. Dogge von schwerem, plumpem Bau …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • mastiff — large, powerful breed of dog, early 14c., from O.Fr. mastin (Mod.Fr. mátin) or Prov. mastis, both from V.L. *mansuetinus domesticated, tame, from L. mansuetus tame, gentle (see MANSUETUDE (Cf. mansuetude)). Probably originally meaning a dog that… …   Etymology dictionary

  • mastiff — ► NOUN ▪ a dog of a large, strong breed with drooping ears and pendulous lips. ORIGIN Old French mastin, from Latin mansuetus tame …   English terms dictionary

  • Mastiff — A mastiff is a type of large dog often used as guard dogs. Mastiff breeds include: English Mastiff, or mastiff, the largest breed of dog in the world, bred as a Roman war dog. Alpine Mastiff, an extinct breed originating in Switzerland American… …   Wikipedia

  • mastiff — /mas tif, mah stif/, n. one of a breed of large, powerful, short haired dogs having an apricot, fawn, or brindled coat. [1300 50; ME mastif, perh. extracted from AF masti(n)s (taken as *mastifs), pl. of OF mastin < VL (canis) *ma(n)suetinus,… …   Universalium

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