tarrier

English

Etymology 1

The Roman Catholic slang variation is possibly derived from Saint Erasmus being labeled as a "tarrier of time" before torture and execution for his beliefs.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈtæɹi.ə/
• (General American) enPR: tărʹē-ər
  • (Mary–marry–merry distinction) IPA^(key): /ˈtæɹiɚ/
  • (Mary–marry–merry merger) IPA^(key): /ˈtɛɹiɚ/

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -æɹiə(ɹ)
• Homophone: terrier (in accents with the Mary-marry-merry merger)

Noun

tarrier (plural tarriers)

1. A layabout or loiterer; someone who tarries.
2. (slang, derogatory, UK) A Roman Catholic of Northern Ireland or Scotland.
   • 2011, Christopher Brookmyre, The Sacred Art of Stealing:

     Wouldnae even offer Jock Stein – your greatest ever manager – a seat on the board 'cause he wasnae a Tarrier.

   • 2015, Peter I. Rose, They and We, page 47:

     It was the Irish “tarriers” working on the railroad that provided the context for the folk ballad that began […]

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈtɑːɹi.ə/
• (General American) enPR: tärʹē-ər, IPA^(key): /ˈtɑɹiɚ/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɑːɹiə(ɹ)

Adjective

tarrier

1. comparative form of tarry: more tarry

Etymology 3

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈtæɹi.ə/
• (General American) enPR: tĕrʹē-ər, IPA^(key): /ˈtɛɹiɚ/
• (rhotic, Mary–marry–merry distinction) enPR: tăʹrē-ər, IPA^(key): /ˈtæɹiɚ/

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -æɹiə(ɹ)

Noun

tarrier (plural tarriers)

1. Obsolete form of terrier (“kind of dog”).
   • 1914, The Catholic Bulletin and Book Review, volume 4, page 370:

     Booth's and Doran's “tarriers” guarded the entrance to the town and drew first blood from a visiting dog: […]