Mastiffs

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

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