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Webster 1913 Edition


Mastiff

Mas′tiff

,
Noun.
;
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.
mâtin
mastiff, OF.
mastin
.]
(Zool.)
A breed of large dogs noted for strength and courage. There are various strains, differing in form and color, and characteristic of different countries.
Mastiff bat
(Zool.)
, any bat of the genus
Molossus
; so called because the face somewhat resembles that of a mastiff.

Webster 1828 Edition


Mastiff

M`ASTIFF

,
Noun.
plu.
mastiffs. Mastives is irregular. [Low L. mastivus.] A large species of dog, remarkable for strength and courage. Strabo informs us that the mastiffs of Britain were trained for war, and used by the Gauls in battle.

Definition 2024


Mastiff

Mastiff

See also: mastiff

English

Noun

Mastiff (plural Mastiffs)

  1. Alternative form of mastiff

mastiff

mastiff

See also: Mastiff

English

Alternative forms

Noun

mastiff (plural mastiffs)

  1. An old breed of powerful, deep-chested, and smooth-coated dog used chiefly as a watchdog and guard dog.
    • 1605: William Shakespeare, King Lear, Act III, Scene VI
      Avaunt, you curs! Be thy mouth or black or white, Tooth that poisons if it bite; Mastiff, greyhound, mongrel grim, Hound or spaniel, brach or him.
    • 1896: Theodore Roosevelt, Ranch Life and the Hunting-Trail, The Century Co., chapter 11
      The Mastiff is a good fighter, and can kill a wildcat, taking the necessary punishment well, as we found out when we once trapped one of these small lynxes.

Hypernyms

  • molosser

Translations