Etymology: < Anglo-Norman terrer (noun) denoting a breed of dog originally bred to kill, flush out, or pursue vermin and burrowing animals such as rabbits or foxes into their earths (1354) and Middle French terrier (adjective) designating this breed of dog (a1376 in chien terrier ; the use as noun is not paralleled in continental French until considerably later (1690)) < post-classical Latin terrarius (1210 in a British source in this sense), use as noun of terrarius earthly (see terrier n.²). The dog is so called on account of its use in hunting to start badgers and other quarry from their earth or burrow; compare terrier n.³ In sense 2 after French terrier (in Castor terrier: 1704 in the passage translated in quot. 1734, from a letter by Dr Sarrasin, a French physician in Canada, cited by J. P. de Tournefort in Mém. de l'Acad. Royale des Sci. 1704 64, in Hist. de l'Acad. Royale des Sci. 1704). In sense 3 punning on Territorial Army n.; compare terry n.³ and slightly later territorial adj. 4.With sense 1a compare Middle French chien de terre (1600 in the passage translated in quot. 1600 for earth dog n. at earth n.¹ Compounds 8a).

Etymology: Partly (i) < Middle French terrier (French †terrier ) rent roll (1456 or earlier; 1241 in Old French as tierier ) < tierre , terre earth (see terre n.) + -ier -ier suffix; compare Middle French, French †terrier (adjective) of or belonging to the earth or to a territory (1376, earliest in chien terrier : see terrier n.¹), and also Middle French registre terrier (1474), Middle French, French †papier terrier (1573), both in sense ‘rent roll’; and partly (ii) < post-classical Latin terrarium register of landed property, rent roll (1316, 1326 in British sources; also as terrerium (1338)), use as noun (apparently after the Old French and Middle French noun cited above) of terrarius earthly (4th cent.), landowning (12th cent. in a British source; compare classical Latin terrārius person who works on shore (attested in an inscription)) < classical Latin terra terra n. + -ārius -ier suffix. Compare post-classical Latin terrarius liber (1619). Compare terrar n.With the γ. forms compare -or suffix, -our suffix. The ending of the δ. form tarrye probably reflects the pronunciation of the French word (if not simply an error).

Etymology: < Middle French terrier (French terrier ) burrow, den (14th cent.; compare Anglo-Norman terrer , tarier , Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French terrier defensive embankment (late 12th cent.)) < terre earth (see terre n.) + -ier -ier suffix. Compare post-classical Latin terrarium earthen rampart (11th cent.). Compare earlier terrier n.¹, terrier n.²

Etymology: < terrier n.¹