ENGLISH
REFERENCE

russell

n. countable
C2 Proficiency US //ˈɹəsəɫ// rus·sell

n. a type of small, energetic dog with a white coat and brown or black spots. People often call them Jack Russells, and they were originally bred for hunting.

n. a breed of small, sturdy terrier characterized by a predominantly white, smooth or wire-haired coat and high energy levels. Often used as a shortened form of 'Jack Russell terrier'.


SIMPLE

My Russell loves to chase tennis balls in the park.

CONTEXTUAL

The neighbor's Russell is incredibly vocal whenever a delivery truck pulls into the driveway.

COMPLEX

While originally bred for fox hunting, the modern Russell has transitioned into a popular companion animal, though it retains the high prey drive and tenacity of its working ancestors.

Origin

Inherited from Middle English Russel, from Anglo-Norman Russel. Doublet of Rousseau/Roussel. Equivalent to russel.

Usage

Commonly used as a shorthand for the Jack Russell Terrier breed; usually capitalized when referring to the specific breed name.

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