rat terrier

noun

A dog breed, or set of breeds, with a background as a farm dog and hunting companion.

Similar
ratter
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Meanings

nounrat terrier (plural rat terriers)

plural rat terriers

  1. A dog breed, or set of breeds, with a background as a farm dog and hunting companion.

    In a few moments he returned and introduced an individual of about his own age, who seemed to be a cross between a rat terrier and a bull-dog, so exactly blended in his countenance and general appearance were the evidences of cunningness, activity and ferocious strength.

    1861, E. J. Guerin, Mountain Charley, page 19

    Synonyms: ratter

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA dog breed, or set of breeds, with a background as a farm dog and hunting companion.

Similar
ratter

More synonyms by meaning

nounany of several breeds of terrier developed to catch rats

Similar
ratter
Broader
terrier
Also see
ratter

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

Named for its talent and avidity for flushing and catching rats. Useful to hunters of various game, useful to farms for pest control, and (like farm cats) inexpensive to keep because it can feed itself via its own hunting pasttime.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

rat terrier. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rat%20terrier

MLA

“rat terrier.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rat%20terrier. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “rat terrier,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rat%20terrier.

Source: rat terrier on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.