<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-03-03</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2010-03-05</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000814361</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TIMBERLAND CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TBL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001403189</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Pazzani John P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>200 DOMAIN DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>STRATHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>03885</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Culture Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>9.34</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-03-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15276</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-03-03</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-03-05</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common   Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15276</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15276</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">26,667 options were granted on March 5, 2009. Such options were granted subject to the Company's financial performance in fiscal year 2009 as approved by the Board of Directors or a committe thereof.  The Board of Directors or a committee therof, as applicable, determined on March 3, 2010 that 15,276 options were earned based upon the Company's financial performance in fiscal year 2009 these options will vest in three equal annual installments beginning on March 3, 2011.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These stock options become exercisable in (3) three equal annual installments in March of 2011, 2012, and 2013.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Danette Wineberg, Attorney-in-Fact  For: John P. Pazzani</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-03-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
