What is "mastiff bat"

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.

n. Any of certain species of the bat family Molossidae, usually the genus ''Eumops'', ''Mops'', ''Promops'', and ''Chaerephon''.

n. a soft-furred chocolate-brown bat with folded ears and small wings; often runs along the ground

The name mastiff bat is applied to certain species of the bat family Molossidae or so called free-tailed bats. It is usually applied specifically to the following genera:

• Eumops, mastiff bats or bonneted bats
• Mops (bat), greater mastiff bats, a genus of bats in the family Molossidae
• Promops, dome-palate mastiff bats
• Chaerephon (bat), lesser mastiff bats

Sometimes more loosely to the rest of the family