Affenpinscher
/ˈæfənˌpɪnʃər/noun
A small toy dog breed with a rough coat and a monkeylike face.
Did you know?The breed’s name is German: Affe means “monkey,” and Pinscher is tied to a terrier-type dog, so the “mystery” is really a blunt old nickname for a scrappy little dog.
Etymological Timeline
German
German
Affe
“monkey”
German
German
Pinscher
“a terrier-type dog, originally a ratter or biter”
19th Century
German
Affenpinscher
“literally “monkey terrier,” used for a small, shaggy dog”
20th Century
English
Affenpinscher
“the established English name of the dog breed”