from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Terrier \Ter"ri*er\, n.
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.
[1913 Webster]
Note: 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}.
[1913 Webster]
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}.]
[1913 Webster]