\Ter"ri*er\, n. [CF. L. terere to rub, to rub away,
terebra a borer.]
An auger or borer. [Obs.]

\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.] (Zo["o]l.)
   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.
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}.
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}.]