one of a breed of large, powerful, short-haired dogs having an apricot, fawn, or brindled coat.
Origin: 1300–50;Middle Englishmastif, perhaps extracted from Anglo-Frenchmasti(n)s (taken as *mastifs), plural of Old Frenchmastin < Vulgar Latin (canis) *ma(n)suētīnus, derivative of Latinmansuētus tame, mild (see mansuetude)
a printed punctuation mark (‽), available only in some typefaces, designed to combine the question mark (?) and the exclamation point (!), indicating a mixture of query and interjection, as after a rhetorical question.
a printed punctuation mark (‽), available only in some typefaces, designed to combine the question mark (?) and the exclamation point (!), indicating a mixture of query and interjection, as after a rhetorical question.
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
a printed punctuation mark (‽), available only in some typefaces, designed to combine the question mark (?) and the exclamation point (!), indicating a mixture of query and interjection, as after a rhetorical question.
"large, powerful breed of dog," early 14c., from O.Fr. mastin or Prov. mastis, both from V.L. *mansuetinus "domesticated," from L. mansuetus "tame, gentle" (see mansuetude). Form influenced by O.Fr. mestif "mongrel."