content: <PAGE>   1
  As filed with the Commission on ________________, 1995     File No. 33-______
  
                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                               Washington, D.C. 20549
  
                                  --------------
  
                                      Form S-8
                               REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                       UNDER
                             THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
  
                                  --------------
  
                              The Timberland Company
        ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
  
  
            Delaware                                            02-0312554
  - --------------------------------                --------------------------------
  (State or Other Jurisdiction of                             (IRS Employer
  Incorporation or Organization)                            Identification No.)
                                                
                                  200 Domain Drive
                           Stratham, New Hampshire  03885
  - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            (Address of Principal Executive Office, including Zip Code)
  
                               1987 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                               ----------------------
                              (Full Title of the Plan)
  
                                 Sidney W. Swartz
                              The Timberland Company
                                 200 Domain Drive
                          Stratham, New Hampshire  03885
                                  (603) 772-9500
  - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Agent for Service)
  
  <TABLE>
                          CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
  
  <CAPTION>
  - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Title of                    Amount             Proposed            Proposed             Amount of
  Securities                  to be              maximum             maximum              Registration
  to be                       registered         offering            aggregate            fee
  registered                                     price per           offering         
                                                 share1              price1           
  - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    <S>                        <C>               <C>             <C>                       <C>
    Class A Common Stock,      500,000 shares    $ 23.00         $ 11,500,000.00           $ 3,968.00
       $0.01 par value                                                                
  - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      
  
  
  - -----------------------------
  <FN>
  1        Estimated solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h) on the 
  basis of the average of the high and low prices of the Class A Common Stock of The Timberland Company as 
  reported on the New York Stock Exchange on June 14, 1995.
  
  </TABLE>
  
                                       Exhibit Index appears on page 6.
  <PAGE>   2
                       REGISTRATION OF ADDITIONAL SECURITIES
  
  
  The Timberland Company (the "COMPANY" or "REGISTRANT") hereby incorporates by
  reference the contents of the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-8,
  File number 33-17552, and Registration Statement on Form S-8, File number
  33-67128.  The purpose of this Registration Statement is to register an
  additional 500,000 shares of the Company's Class A Common stock for issuance
  under the Company's 1987 Stock Option Plan.
  
  <TABLE>
  
  ITEM 8.   EXHIBITS
            --------
  <CAPTION>
  
         EXHIBIT
          <S>          <C>
            4.         The Timberland Company 1987 Stock Option Plan, as amended to date.
                       
            5.         Opinion of Ropes & Gray.
                       
          23.1         Consent of Deloitte & Touche.
                       
          23.2         Consent of Ropes & Gray (contained in Exhibit 5).
                       
          24.          Power of Attorney (included in Part II of the Registration Statement).
  </TABLE>             
  
  
  ITEM 9.   UNDERTAKINGS.
            ------------
  
  (a)     The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
  
          (1)     To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
  made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
  
                  (i)      To include any prospectus required by Section
           10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
  
                  (ii)     To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
           arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or
           the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually
           or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information
           set forth in the Registration Statement;
  
                  (iii)    To include any material information with respect to
           the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration
           Statement or any material change to such information in the
           Registration Statement;
  
  provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) shall not apply if
  the information required to be included in the post-effective amendment by
  those paragraphs is contained in 
  
  
                                        -2-
  <PAGE>   3
  
  periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange 
  Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the 
  Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this 
  Registration Statement.
  
           (2)     That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
           Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be
           deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
           offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time
           shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
  
           (3)     To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
           amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold
           at the termination of the offering.
  
  (b)      The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
  determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
  Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
  Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
  employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
  Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
  Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
  relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
  at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
  
  (h)      Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
  Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
  persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,
  the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
  Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
  in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for
  indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
  Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
  person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
  proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
  connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in
  the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
  precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
  such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
  will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
                                        -3-
  <PAGE>   4
  
                                     SIGNATURES
                                     ----------
  
           Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
  Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
  all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
  Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
  duly authorized, in the Town of Stratham, State of New Hampshire, on this 19th
  day of June, 1995.
  
                                               THE TIMBERLAND COMPANY
                                               
                                               
                                               By: /s/ Sidney W. Swartz
                                                   --------------------------
                                                   Sidney W. Swartz
                                                   President
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
                                        -4-
  
  
  <PAGE>   5
                                 POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                 -----------------
  
           Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints
  Jeffrey B. Swartz, Keith D. Monda and Dennis W. Hagele and each of them singly,
  his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of
  substitution and resubstititution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in
  any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including
  post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement on Form S-8 to be
  filed by The Timberland Company, and to file the same, with all exhibits
  thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
  Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
  attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to
  be done by virtue hereof.
  
           Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
  Registration Statement on Form S-8 has been signed by the following persons in
  the capacities and on the dates indicated.
  
  <TABLE>
  <CAPTION>
  
  Signature                  Title                                       Date
  - ---------                  -----                                       ----
  <S>                        <C>                                         <C>
                             Chairman of the Board, Chief                      
  /s/ Sidney W. Swartz       Executive Officer, President and                  
  - ------------------------   Director                                    June 19, 1995
  Sidney W. Swartz
                                                                               
  /s/ Jeffrey B. Swartz      Executive Vice President, Chief
  - ------------------------   Operating Officer and Director              June 19, 1995 
  Jeffrey B. Swartz
                                                                                       
                             Senior Vice President - Finance and                       
  /s/ Keith D. Monda         Administration and Chief Financial                        
  - ------------------------   Officer                                     June 19, 1995 
  Keith D. Monda 
                                                                                       
  /s/ Dennis W. Hagele       Vice President - Finance and Chief                        
  - ------------------------   Accounting Officer                          June 19, 1995 
  Dennis W. Hagele
                                                                                            
  /s/ Robert M. Agate                                                                                          
  - ------------------------   Director                                    June 19, 1995      
  Robert M. Agate                                                                           
                                                                                            
                                                                                            
  /s/ John F. Brennan        Director                                    June 19, 1995      
  - ------------------------   
  John F. Brennan            
                                                                                            
  /s/Abraham Zaleznik           
  - ------------------------                                               June 19, 1995      
  Abraham Zaleznik           Director
                                                       
  </TABLE>
  
                                                    -5-
  <PAGE>   6
  
  <TABLE>
                                                      EXHIBIT INDEX
                                                      -------------
  
  <CAPTION>
     EXHIBIT NO.                                         TITLE                                          PAGE
     ----------                  ---------------------------------------------------------------      --------
       <S>                       <C>                                                                    <C>
       4.                        The Timberland Company 1987 Stock Option Plan, as amended to
                                 date.                                                                   7
                                                                                                        
       5.                        Opinion of Ropes & Gray.                                               15
      
       23.1                      Consent of Deloitte & Touche.                                          16
      
       23.2                      Consent of Ropes & Gray (contained in Exhibit 5).                      --
      
       24.                       Power of Attorney (included in Part II of the Registration
                                 Statement under the caption "Signatures").                             --
  </TABLE>
  
  
  
  
                                                        -6-
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metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "TIMBERLAND CO", "cik": "0000814361", "assigned-sic": "3140", "irs-number": "020312554", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "033-60457", "film-number": "95548406"}, "business-address": {"street1": "11 MERRILL INDUSTRIAL DR", "city": "HAMPTON", "state": "NH", "zip": "03842", "phone": "6039261600"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "11 MERRILL INDUSTRIAL DRIVE", "city": "HAMPTON", "state": "NH", "zip": "03842"}}
text: 1
  As filed with the Commission on ________________, 1995     File No. 33-______
  
                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                               Washington, D.C. 20549
  
                                  --------------
  
                                      Form S-8
                               REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                       UNDER
                             THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
  
                                  --------------
  
                              The Timberland Company
        ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
  
            Delaware                                            02-0312554
  - --------------------------------                --------------------------------
  (State or Other Jurisdiction of                             (IRS Employer
  Incorporation or Organization)                            Identification No.)
                                                
                                  200 Domain Drive
                           Stratham, New Hampshire  03885
  - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            (Address of Principal Executive Office, including Zip Code)
  
                               1987 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                               ----------------------
                              (Full Title of the Plan)
  
                                 Sidney W. Swartz
                              The Timberland Company
                                 200 Domain Drive
                          Stratham, New Hampshire  03885
                                  (603) 772-9500
  - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Agent for Service)
  
                          CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
  - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Title of                    Amount             Proposed            Proposed             Amount of
  Securities                  to be              maximum             maximum              Registration
  to be                       registered         offering            aggregate            fee
  registered                                     price per           offering         
                                                 share1              price1           
  - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Class A Common Stock,      500,000 shares    $ 23.00         $ 11,500,000.00           $ 3,968.00
       $0.01 par value                                                                
  - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      
  
  - -----------------------------
  1        Estimated solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h) on the 
  basis of the average of the high and low prices of the Class A Common Stock of The Timberland Company as 
  reported on the New York Stock Exchange on June 14, 1995.
  Exhibit Index appears on page 6.
  2
                       REGISTRATION OF ADDITIONAL SECURITIES
  
  The Timberland Company (the "COMPANY" or "REGISTRANT") hereby incorporates by
  reference the contents of the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-8,
  File number 33-17552, and Registration Statement on Form S-8, File number
  33-67128.  The purpose of this Registration Statement is to register an
  additional 500,000 shares of the Company's Class A Common stock for issuance
  under the Company's 1987 Stock Option Plan.
  
  ITEM 8.   EXHIBITS
            --------
  EXHIBIT
  4.         The Timberland Company 1987 Stock Option Plan, as amended to date.
                       
            5.         Opinion of Ropes & Gray.
                       
          23.1         Consent of Deloitte & Touche.
                       
          23.2         Consent of Ropes & Gray (contained in Exhibit 5).
                       
          24.          Power of Attorney (included in Part II of the Registration Statement).
  ITEM 9.   UNDERTAKINGS.
            ------------
  
  (a)     The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
  
          (1)     To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
  made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
  
                  (i)      To include any prospectus required by Section
           10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
  
                  (ii)     To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
           arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or
           the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually
           or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information
           set forth in the Registration Statement;
  
                  (iii)    To include any material information with respect to
           the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration
           Statement or any material change to such information in the
           Registration Statement;
  
  provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) shall not apply if
  the information required to be included in the post-effective amendment by
  those paragraphs is contained in 
  
                                        -2-
  3
  
  periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange 
  Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the 
  Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this 
  Registration Statement.
  
           (2)     That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
           Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be
           deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
           offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time
           shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
  
           (3)     To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
           amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold
           at the termination of the offering.
  
  (b)      The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
  determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
  Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
  Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
  employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
  Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
  Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
  relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
  at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
  
  (h)      Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
  Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
  persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,
  the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
  Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
  in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for
  indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
  Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
  person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
  proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
  connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in
  the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
  precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
  such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
  will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
  
                                        -3-
  4
  
                                     SIGNATURES
                                     ----------
  
           Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
  Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
  all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
  Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
  duly authorized, in the Town of Stratham, State of New Hampshire, on this 19th
  day of June, 1995.
  
                                               THE TIMBERLAND COMPANY
                                               
                                               
                                               By: /s/ Sidney W. Swartz
                                                   --------------------------
                                                   Sidney W. Swartz
                                                   President
  
                                        -4-
  5
                                 POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                 -----------------
  
           Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints
  Jeffrey B. Swartz, Keith D. Monda and Dennis W. Hagele and each of them singly,
  his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of
  substitution and resubstititution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in
  any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including
  post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement on Form S-8 to be
  filed by The Timberland Company, and to file the same, with all exhibits
  thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
  Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
  attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to
  be done by virtue hereof.
  
           Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
  Registration Statement on Form S-8 has been signed by the following persons in
  the capacities and on the dates indicated.
  Signature                  Title                                       Date
  - ---------                  -----                                       ----
  Chairman of the Board, Chief                      
  /s/ Sidney W. Swartz       Executive Officer, President and                  
  - ------------------------   Director                                    June 19, 1995
  Sidney W. Swartz
                                                                               
  /s/ Jeffrey B. Swartz      Executive Vice President, Chief
  - ------------------------   Operating Officer and Director              June 19, 1995 
  Jeffrey B. Swartz
                                                                                       
                             Senior Vice President - Finance and                       
  /s/ Keith D. Monda         Administration and Chief Financial                        
  - ------------------------   Officer                                     June 19, 1995 
  Keith D. Monda 
                                                                                       
  /s/ Dennis W. Hagele       Vice President - Finance and Chief                        
  - ------------------------   Accounting Officer                          June 19, 1995 
  Dennis W. Hagele
                                                                                            
  /s/ Robert M. Agate                                                                                          
  - ------------------------   Director                                    June 19, 1995      
  Robert M. Agate                                                                           
                                                                                            
                                                                                            
  /s/ John F. Brennan        Director                                    June 19, 1995      
  - ------------------------   
  John F. Brennan            
                                                                                            
  /s/Abraham Zaleznik           
  - ------------------------                                               June 19, 1995      
  Abraham Zaleznik           Director
  -5-
  6
  
                                                      EXHIBIT INDEX
                                                      -------------
  EXHIBIT NO.                                         TITLE                                          PAGE
     ----------                  ---------------------------------------------------------------      --------
  4.                        The Timberland Company 1987 Stock Option Plan, as amended to
                                 date.                                                                   7
                                                                                                        
       5.                        Opinion of Ropes & Gray.                                               15
      
       23.1                      Consent of Deloitte & Touche.                                          16
      
       23.2                      Consent of Ropes & Gray (contained in Exhibit 5).                      --
      
       24.                       Power of Attorney (included in Part II of the Registration
                                 Statement under the caption "Signatures").                             --
  -6-