Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Mastiff \Mas"tiff\, n.; pl. {Mastiffs}. [{Mastives} is irregular
   and unusual.] [Prob. fr. Prov. E. masty, adj., large, n., a
   great dog, prob. fr. mast fruit, and hence, lit., fattened
   with mast. There is perh. confusion with OF. mestif mongrel;
   cf. also F. m[^a]tin mastiff, OF. mastin.] (Zo["o]l.)
   A breed of large dogs noted for strength and courage. There
   are various strains, differing in form and color, and
   characteristic of different countries.

   {Mastiff bat} (Zo["o]l.), any bat of the genus {Molossus}; so
      called because the face somewhat resembles that of a
      mastiff.