/shnow"zeuhr/ ; Ger. /shnow"tseuhrdd/ , n.
one of a German breed of sturdy medium-sized dogs having a tight, wiry, pepper-and-salt or pure black coat, bristly eyebrows and beardlike whiskers, and a docked tail, used originally as a ratter and a guard dog and later used in police work. Also called standard schnauzer . Cf. giant schnauzer, miniature schnauzer .
[ 1920-25; Schnauze SNOUT + -er -ER 1 ]