dog

[ dawg, dog ]
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See synonyms for: dog / dogged / dogging on Thesaurus.com

noun
a domesticated canid, Canis familiaris, bred in many varieties.
any carnivore of the dog family Canidae, having prominent canine teeth and, in the wild state, a
long and slender muzzle, a deep-chested muscular body, a bushy tail, and large, erect ears.See
also canid.
the male of such an animal.
any of various animals resembling a dog.
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verb (used with object), dogged, dog·ging.

to follow or track like a dog, especially with hostile intent; hound.
to drive or chase with a dog or dogs.
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 IDIOMS FOR DOG
dog it, Informal.

1. to shirk one's responsibility; loaf on the job.

2. to retreat, flee, renege, etc.:a sponsor who dogged it when needed most.
go to the dogs, Informal. to deteriorate; degenerate morally or physically:This neighborhood is going to the
dogs.
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ORIGIN OF DOG

First recorded before 1050; Middle English dogge, Old English docga; further origin uncertain

OTHER WORDS FROM DOG

dogless, adjectivedoglike, adjective

WORDS NEARBY DOG
doeth, dof, doff, doffer, do for, dog, dog and bone, dog and pony show, dog ape, dogbane, dogbane family

DICTIONARY.COM UNABRIDGED BASED ON THE RANDOM HOUSE UNABRIDGED DICTIONARY, © RANDOM HOUSE, INC. 2021
BEHIND THE WORD

Where does the word dog come from?

How did man’s best friend fetch the name dog? This is actually one of English’s toughest
headscratchers.

While dog is an extremely common word, its origin hounds us. Until around the 1500s, the go-to
term for dog, was hund, which developed into hound. Fun fact: the Latin word for dog, canis, is
the origin of the word canine and is, in fact, etymologically related to hound.

But scholars can’t quite put their paws on where the word dog came from. All we know is that it
comes from the rare Old English word docga. But where did this word dog come from? Theories
have been offered, but etymologists are left chasing their tails. As it happens, the Spanish word
for dog, perro, is also of obscure origin.

So, we guess we’ll let this sleeping dog lie for now.

Dog isn’t alone: it finds lots of company in other English words that seem simple but whose
origins are not. Discover more in our slideshow “‘Dog,’ ‘Boy,’ And Other Words That We
Don’t Know Where They Came From.”

Did you know … ?

CONTENT RELATED TO DOG

 Why Is “Dog” One Of The Great Mysteries Of The English Language?A dog by any other
name would still be man's best friend ... but we want to know where the word "dog" came from
in the first place. Who knows?
READ MORE
Where Did The Phrase “The Dog Ate My Homework” Come From?Dogs are man's best
friend, and not only because they are a handy excuse in a pinch. But where does the expression
"the dog ate my homework" come from?
READ MORE
WORDS RELATED TO DOG
puppy, pup, shadow, hound, plague, haunt, cur, stray, tyke, bitch, mutt, mongrel, doggy, pooch, pursue, track, trail, tail, ta
g, trouble

EXAMPLE SENTENCES FROM THE WEB FOR DOG

 One step at a time, clumsily restraining an overexcited dog, we lowered ourselves into the valley.

A DAY’S DRIVE FROM CHICAGO, EXPLORING A VERY DIFFERENT ILLINOIS|CARSON VAUGHAN|FEBRUARY 12, 2021|WASHINGTON POST

 “Susan even asked if she could bring pet food for our dog, when she heard him barking through the door,” she added.

RESTAURANTS THROW AWAY A LOT OF FOOD. THESE VOLUNTEERS PICK IT UP FIRST AND TAKE IT TO PEOPLE WHO ARE HUNGRY.|CATHY FREE|FEBRUARY 12,
2021|WASHINGTON POST

 Some people walk dogs out of love, or duty, or because their parents make them.

A DOG-WALKING SERVICE IS NOW WORTH $1.4 BILLION|OLIVER STALEY|FEBRUARY 11, 2021|QUARTZ

 I take my dog on hikes and when the world isn’t in shambles, I love traveling.

MEET D.C.’S MOST ELIGIBLE LGBTQ SINGLES|STAFF REPORTS|FEBRUARY 11, 2021|WASHINGTON BLADE
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BRITISH DICTIONARY DEFINITIONS FOR DOG

dog
/ (dɒɡ) /

noun
 1. a domesticated canine mammal, Canis familiaris, occurring in many breeds that show a
great variety in size and form
2. (as modifier)dog biscuit

1. any other carnivore of the family Canidae, such as the dingo and coyote

2. (as modifier)the dog family Related adjective: canine

1. the male of animals of the dog family

2. (as modifier)a dog fox
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verb dogs, dogging or dogged (tr)
to pursue or follow after like a dog
to trouble; plagueto be dogged by ill health
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adverb
(usually in combination) thoroughly; utterlydog-tired

See also dogs

DERIVED FORMS OF DOG

doglike, adjective

WORD ORIGIN FOR DOG

Old English docga, of obscure origin

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PUBLISHERS 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

IDIOMS AND PHRASES WITH DOG

dog
In addition to the idioms beginning with dog

 dog days
 dog eat dog
 dog in the manger
 dog it
SEE MORE ORIGINS
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THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® IDIOMS DICTIONARY COPYRIGHT © 2002, 2001, 1995 BY HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY. PUBLISHED BY

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBLISHING COMPANY.

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