terrier

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Middle French, from Old French chien terrier (“terrier dog”), from chien (“dog”) + Old French terrier (“of earth”, adjective), from Medieval Latin terrarius (“of earth”), from Latin terra (“earth”).

noun

1. 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).
2. Someone displaying terrier-like qualities.
   One of the LNER dispatch staff is a terrier when it comes to masks, challenging anyone without them. November 4 2020, Paul Bigland, “At no point have I felt unsafe...”, in Rail, page 47

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Anglo-Norman terrier, from Old French terrier (“of earth”, adjective), from Medieval Latin terrarius (“of earth”), from Latin terra (“earth”).

noun

1. (law, historical) A collection of acknowledgments of the vassals or tenants of a lordship, containing the rents and services they owed to the lord, etc.
2. (law) 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.

Etymology 3

Compare Latin terō (“to rub, to rub away”), terebra (“a borer”).

noun

1. An auger or borer.