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Glite Dictionary
miniature pinscher

miniature pinscher

7.2
A small German dog that looks like a Doberman and is lively
  • noun
  • /ˈmɪnɪtʃər ˈpɪnʃər/
translation icon : pinscher miniatura
  • My friend has a miniature pinscher named Max.

Examples

  • My miniature pinscher loves to chase squirrels in the backyard.

  • At the dog show, several miniature pinschers competed in the agility trials.

  • Her family adopted a miniature pinscher from the animal shelter last year.

  • The miniature pinscher is often mistaken for a small Doberman but is actually a different breed.

  • The miniature pinscher is very energetic.

  • The lively miniature pinscher was known for its playful and energetic behavior.

  • At the dog show, I saw a beautiful miniature pinscher with a sleek coat.

Synonyms

pinscher
vsminiature pinscher
3 8.8

A small short-haired dog that comes from Germany

refers to one specific small German breed with lively temperament and sleek appearance

Surface Forms

miniature pinscher singular
miniature pinschers plural

Morphology

miniature + pinscher

The meaning 'a small pinscher dog' is directly and compositionally derived from 'miniature' (exceptionally small) + 'pinscher' (a dog breed). This is a productive noun + modifier phrase with no idiomatic shift, and similar constructions exist across languages, so a B1 learner knowing both words would readily understand it.

Etymology

Miniature pinscher is a German name: pinscher may come from a word meaning 'to nip' or 'to pinch', because these lively little dogs were used to catch mice. The word miniature shows it is a 'small' version, so the name tells us it is a small, quick dog that looks like a tiny Doberman.