Any of various small terriers of a breed originating in England, having a white coat with dark markings and developed in both wire-haired and smooth-coated varieties. They were formerly used to drive foxes out of hiding. a small dog with short hair. Well-known breed of dog developed in England to drive foxes from their dens. The wirehaired variety was developed from a rough-coated black-and-tan terrier; the smooth-haired variety was developed from the beagle, greyhound, bull terrier, and a smooth-coated black-and-tan terrier. Both are sturdy, with a tapered muzzle and folded, V-shaped ears. They stand about 15 in. (38 cm) high and weigh 15-19 lb (7-8.5 kg). Predominantly white with black or black-and-tan markings, fox terriers are noted for their bold, energetic nature