Illustration of mastiff
mastiff
noun
mas·tiff ˈma-stəf 
: any of a breed of very large massive powerful smooth-coated dogs that are apricot, fawn, or brindle and are often used as guard dogs
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The case involved an enormous dog in Nevada named Onion, a 120-pound mastiff–Rhodesian ridgeback mix. 
Hope Corrigan | The New York Times, The Week, 31 Aug. 2022 Flavin’s face was replaced by a photo of the actor’s iconic character, Rocky’s, bull mastiff Butkus. Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 24 Aug. 2022 The cane corso breed is an Italian breed of mastiff usually owned as a companion or guard dog. Pam Mcloughlin, Hartford Courant, 26 July 2022 The second mastiff involved in the attack was taken from its home by the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control. Christian Martinez, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2022 Speaking from what appeared to be an office, Drueke sent a message to his mother, Lois, mentioning his dog, a mastiff called Diesel, before signing off with a wink. Mithil Aggarwal, NBC News, 18 June 2022 Overshirts in suede are hand-cut and sewn, processed, and finished, resulting in garments supple as a Neapolitan mastiff’s ear. Tom Stubbs, Vogue, 14 June 2022 The couple threw a few pairs of underwear in a bag, then loaded Brighton and their other mastiff, Reese, in the truck. Outside Online, 3 Dec. 2020 The boy, identified by the Parker County Sheriff's Office as Conner Landers, had just gotten off a school bus on Jan. 21 when a black brindle boxer and bull mastiff mixed-breed escaped a fenced yard and attacked him. Paul Best, Fox News, 10 Feb. 2022 See More
Hope Corrigan | The New York Times, The Week, 31 Aug. 2022 Flavin’s face was replaced by a photo of the actor’s iconic character, Rocky’s, bull mastiff Butkus. Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 24 Aug. 2022 The cane corso breed is an Italian breed of mastiff usually owned as a companion or guard dog. Pam Mcloughlin, Hartford Courant, 26 July 2022 The second mastiff involved in the attack was taken from its home by the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control. Christian Martinez, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2022 Speaking from what appeared to be an office, Drueke sent a message to his mother, Lois, mentioning his dog, a mastiff called Diesel, before signing off with a wink. Mithil Aggarwal, NBC News, 18 June 2022 Overshirts in suede are hand-cut and sewn, processed, and finished, resulting in garments supple as a Neapolitan mastiff’s ear. Tom Stubbs, Vogue, 14 June 2022 The couple threw a few pairs of underwear in a bag, then loaded Brighton and their other mastiff, Reese, in the truck. Outside Online, 3 Dec. 2020 The boy, identified by the Parker County Sheriff's Office as Conner Landers, had just gotten off a school bus on Jan. 21 when a black brindle boxer and bull mastiff mixed-breed escaped a fenced yard and attacked him. Paul Best, Fox News, 10 Feb. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English mastif, from Medieval Latin mastivus, from Vulgar Latin *masuetivus, from Latin mansuetus tame — more at mansuetude
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
mastiff
noun
mas·tiff ˈma-stəf
: a very large powerful dog with a smooth coat