veterinarian

What it means

1. A medical doctor who treats non-human animals.

   The first edition, translated into 6 languages, appeared to fulfil a need, and a minisurvey of UK veterinarians graduated 2–40 years ago showed unanimous support for such a revision […]

   2005, Anthony David Weaver, Guy St. Jean, Adrian Steiner, Bovine surgery and lameness

   1 more example

   A fascination with Hokkaido's wild country first drew the veterinarian to Abashiri, and he is a leading expert on the Ezo red fox. Like much of Hokkaido's wildlife, this fox is not found on Honshu.

   1980, National Geographic Society (U.S.), National geographic, →OCLC

   Synonyms: vet, veterinary surgeon, veterinary, animal doctor

In a sentence

A fascination with Hokkaido's wild country first drew the veterinarian to Abashiri, and he is a leading expert on the Ezo red fox. Like much of Hokkaido's wildlife, this fox is not found on Honshu.

1980, National Geographic Society (U.S.), National geographic, →OCLC

Where it comes from

1. Latinveterīnārius“cattle doctor”
2. Englishveterinarian

From Latin veterīnārius (“cattle doctor”) + -an, from veterīnae (“beasts of burden, draught-”), probably from vehō (“to convey, draw”), or from vetus (“old”). By surface analysis, veterinary + -an.