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American Staffordshire terrier
noun
: any of a breed of strong stocky dogs that are of similar ancestry to but are larger and heavier than the related American pit bull terrier and Staffordshire bull terrier
Examples of American Staffordshire terrier in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Parker and his dog, Tommy, a white and black American Staffordshire terrier, were on their daily walk in the D.C. park.
—Petula Dvorak, Washington Post, 11 July 2024
An Australian shepherd named Ribbon, an English setter called Cider, a giant schnauzer named Monty and an American Staffordshire terrier called Trouble also are in the pack of contenders.
—CBS News, 9 May 2023
An American Staffordshire terrier belonging to Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott also was involved in a biting incident in recent years.
—Tom Steele, Dallas News, 10 Aug. 2021
That’s among the disturbing accusations made in affadivits supporting the arrests of Abilene Schnieder and her husband Christian Alexander Moreno, both 31, after their American Staffordshire terriers, a breed of pit bull, fatally attacked 81-year-old Ramon Najera Jr. on Friday.
—Jacob Beltran, San Antonio Express-News, 2 Mar. 2023
Dogs attack and kill boy, injure mother on Tribal land in Idaho, authorities say The dogs were American Staffordshire terriers, one of several breeds that falls under the broader classification of a pit bull, according to San Antonio Animal Care Services.
—Andy Rose, CNN, 25 Feb. 2023
This includes Julius, a Dalmatian with hearing loss; Mykonos, an American Staffordshire terrier/bulldog with a cleft palate; and Marmalade, a border collie/Australian cattle dog with sight and hearing impairments.
—Rebecca Aizin, Peoplemag, 8 Feb. 2023
Actual pit breeds include the American pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, and American bully.
—Lindsey Reynolds, Treehugger, 1 Feb. 2023
Other examples are the American Staffordshire terrier’s aggressive tone with a massive head and a deep chest.
—Dallas News, 4 Oct. 2022
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Word History
First Known Use
1971, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of American Staffordshire terrier was
in 1971
Dictionary Entries Near American Staffordshire terrier
American Staffordshire terrier
Cite this Entry
“American Staffordshire terrier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/American%20Staffordshire%20terrier. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
More from Merriam-Webster on American Staffordshire terrier
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about American Staffordshire terrier
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