Pinscher
/ˈpɪnʃər/noun
A breed type of dog, especially a medium-sized, short-haired dog used historically for guarding and ratting.
Did you know?Pinscher is a German breed name, and while its exact etymology is uncertain, it is historically tied to dogs bred to seize or pinch vermin rather than to any occult meaning.
Etymological Timeline
19th Century
German
Pinscher
“A type of terrier-like dog bred for ratting and guarding”
Early Modern German
German
pinsen / pinzen
“To nip, pinch, or snap at”
Middle High German
MHG
pinsen
“To pinch or nip”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*pinkaną
“To pinch, press, or squeeze”