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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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mastiff
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A large and powerful breed of dog, with short coat and massive head, which probably existed in Britain before the arrival of the *Romans. It is believed that they took mastiffs back to Rome to pit them in arenas against wild animals and even gladiators. When *bear baiting became a popular sport in England, it was again mastiffs which did the baiting. The slightly smaller bull mastiff, bred in the 19C to discourage poachers, was a cross between the mastiff and the *bulldog.
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