Hypertext Webster Gateway: "mastiff"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
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.
{Mastiff bat} (Zo["o]l.), any bat of the genus {Molossus}; so
called because the face somewhat resembles that of a
mastiff.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
mastiff
n : an old breed of powerful deep-chested smooth-coated dog used
chiefly as a watchdog and guard dog
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