# mastiff

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈmæstɪf/ · frequency rank #48,344

## Definitions
1. One of an old breed of powerful, deep-chested, and smooth-coated dogs, used chiefly as watchdogs and guard dogs.

## Etymology
From Middle English mastif, mastyf, an aberrant derivation (with influence from Old French mestif) from Old French mastin (modern French mâtin), from Vulgar Latin *mansuetinus (“tamed (animal)”), from Latin mansuetus (“tamed”).

## Easily confused with
- **massif** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/massif-vs-mastiff)

## Common misspellings (9)
`amstiff`, `masitff`, `masstiff`, `mastfif`, `mastif`, `masttiff`, `matsiff`, `mmastiff`, `msatiff`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/mastiff