tarrier

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.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈtæɹi.ə/
• (General American) enPR: tărʹē-ər
  • (without the Mary–marry–merry merger) IPA^(key): /ˈtæɹiɚ/
  • (Mary–marry–merry merger) IPA^(key): /ˈtɛɹiɚ/

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -æɹiə(ɹ)
• Homophone: terrier (Mary–marry–merry merger)

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 […]

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

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

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɑːɹiə(ɹ)

tarrier

1. comparative form of tarry: more tarry

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈtæɹi.ə/
• (General American) enPR: tĕrʹē-ər, IPA^(key): /ˈtɛɹiɚ/
• (rhotic, without the Mary–marry–merry merger) enPR: tăʹrē-ər, IPA^(key): /ˈtæɹiɚ/

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -æɹiə(ɹ)

tarrier (plural tarriers)

1. Obsolete form of terrier (“kind of dog”).
   • 1843, William Hamilton Maxwell, Wild Sports of the West: With Legendary Tales, and Local Sketches, R. Bentley, page 77:

     I then had the two best tarriers beneath the canopy; this poor crater is their daughter," and he patted the dog's head affectionately.

   • 1881, James Greenwood, Low-Life Deeps:

     Why I recollect, a bit ago, having a tarrier dog what got old and disagreeable, and was turned out on that account from a swell house in Belgravy. Well, he come into my hands, and nat'rally I put him on paunch, like the rest. Would he eat it? Not he. He had been used to his chicken, and his mutton chops, and his 'ashes: and he turned up his nose at anything commoner.

   • 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: […]