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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

dog en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

  • (UK) audio
  • (UK) audio
  • (US) audio
  • /dɒɡ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • /dɔɡ/ without the cot–caught merger
  • /dɑɡ/ (cot-caught-merger)
  • (US) audio cot-caught
  • dôg (General-American)
  • [dɔ(ː)ɡ] (Canada)

Etymology

Etymology tree Old English [Term?]? Proto-Germanic *-gô Proto-West Germanic *-gō Old English -ga Old English dogga Middle English dogge English dog Inherited from Middle English dogge (akin to Scots dug), from Old English dogga, docga, of uncertain origin. The original meaning seems to have been a common dog, as opposed to a well-bred one, or something like 'cur', and perhaps later came to be used for stocky dogs. Possibly a pet-form diminutive with suffix -ga (compare frocga (“frog”), *picga (“pig”)), appended to a base *dog-, *doc- of unclear origin and meaning. One possibility is Old English dox (“dark, swarthy”) (compare frocga from frox). Another proposal is that it derives from Proto-West Germanic *dugan (“to be suitable”), the origin of Old English dugan (“to be good, worthy, useful”), English dow, Dutch deugen, German taugen. The theory goes that it could have been an epithet for dogs, commonly used by children, meaning "good/useful animal". Another one is that it is related to *docce (“stock, muscle”), from Proto-West Germanic *dokkā (“round mass, ball, muscle, doll”), whence English dock (“stumpy tail”). In 14th-century England, hound (from Old English hund) was the general word for all domestic canines, and dog referred to a subtype resembling the modern mastiff and bulldog. By the 16th century, dog had become the general word, and hound had begun to refer only to breeds used for hunting. In the 16th century, the word dog was adopted by several continental European languages as their word for mastiff. Despite similarities in forms and meaning, it is not related to Mbabaram dog.

Meanings

  1. (countable, uncountable) A mammal of the family Canidae: ▸ The species Canis familiaris (sometimes designated Canis lupus familiaris), domesticated for thousands of years and of highly variable appearance because of human breeding.
    • The dog barked all night long.
    • When Timothy and Julia hurried up the staircase to the bedroom floor, where a considerable commotion was taking place, Tim took Barry Leach with him.[…]. The captive made no resistance and came not only quietly but in a series of eager little rushes like a timid dog on a choke chain. 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 19, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:
    • The preposterous altruism too![…]Resist not evil. It is an insane immolation of self—as bad intrinsically as fakirs stabbing themselves or anchorites warping their spines in caves scarcely large enough for a fair-sized dog. 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XVI, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
    • […] I beg again to state, in my humility, that I am Only a Dog. Such a little dog too. […] I am very white, very woolly, very pretty indeed; covered all over with snowy curls, and having two bright black eyes and a black shiny tip to my nose like patent leather. 1870, Ouida [pseudonym; Maria Louise Ramé], “Introduction. His First Paper.”, in Puck: His Vicissitudes, Adventures, Observations, Conclusions, Friendships, and Philosophies. […], volume I, London: Chapman and Hall, […], →OCLC, page 2:
  2. (countable, uncountable) A mammal of the family Canidae: ▸ Any member of the family Canidae, including domestic dogs, wolves, coyotes, jackals, and their relatives (extant and extinct).
    • This includes the development of hyena-like bone crushers (Osteoborus and Borophagus), a large bone-crushing hunting dog (Aelurodon), and another borophagine frugivorous dog (Carpocyon). 1989, John L. Gittleman, Carnivore Behavior, Ecology, and Evolution, page 561:
  3. (attributive, countable, often, uncountable) A mammal of the family Canidae: ▸ A male dog, wolf, or fox, as opposed to a bitch or vixen.
    • Firstly, he was there to encourage and assist the hounds (a scratch pack – mostly dog-hounds drafted from fox-hound kennels because they were over-sized) […] 1928, Siegfried Sassoon, Memoirs of a Fox-Hunting Man, Penguin, published 2013, page 149:
    • Entirely disregarding sex, Ch. Searchlight has a beautiful Cocker head, but as he is a dog, his head is too fine and far too much upon the bitchy order. 1908, Dogdom, volume 9, page 337, column 1:
  4. (rare, uncountable) The meat of this animal, eaten as food.
    • Did you know that they eat dog in parts of Asia?
  5. (countable, derogatory, figuratively, g-person, slang, uncountable) A person: ▸ A dull, unattractive girl or woman.
    • She’s a real dog.
  6. (countable, figuratively, g-person, slang, uncountable) A person: ▸ A man, guy, chap.
    • You lucky dog!
  7. (countable, derogatory, figuratively, g-person, uncountable) A person: ▸ Someone who overeats or eats rapidly and noisily.
  8. (countable, derogatory, figuratively, g-person, uncountable) A person: ▸ Someone who is cowardly, worthless, or morally reprehensible.
    • Come back and fight, you dogs!
    • [A]t last Mahomed's stood straight up upon its vertebræ, and glared at me through its empty eyeholes, and cursed me with its grinning jaws, because I, a dog of a Christian, disturbed the last sleep of a true believer. 1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC:
    • Blasphemous dog, I wonder that the earth / Doth cease from renting vnderneath thy feete, / To swallow vp those cankred corpes of thine. 1599, Robert Greene, Alphonsus, King of Aragon, act 3:
    • And Hazael ſaid, But what, is thy ſeruant a dogge, that he ſhould doe this great thing? 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 2 Kings 8:13, column 1:
    • You dirty dog.
    • Then, with an ugly oath, “Get up, you dog!” and, drawing back his booted foot, he kicked Tarzan heavily in the side. 1913, Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Return of Tarzan, New York: Ballantine Books, published 1963, page 83:
  9. (countable, figuratively, g-person, slang, uncountable) A person: ▸ A sexually aggressive man.
    • DJ Paul is a dog; one you do not trust. 2005, “Stay Fly”, in Jordan Houston, Darnell Carlton, Paul Beauregard, Premro Smith, Marlon Goodwin, David Brown, Willie Hutchinson (lyrics), Most Known Unknown, performed by Three 6 Mafia (featuring Young Buck, 8 Ball, and MJG), Sony BMG:
  10. (countable, uncountable) A mechanical device or support: ▸ Any of various mechanical devices for holding, gripping, or fastening something, particularly with a tooth-like projection.
    • Whenever possible, let the tree support the weight of the chainsaw. Pivot the saw, using the saw's dogs (spikes) as a fulcrum. 2009, ForestWorks, Chainsaw Operator's Manual, page 41:
  11. (countable, uncountable) A mechanical device or support: ▸ A click or pallet adapted to engage the teeth of a ratchet wheel, to restrain the back action.
  12. (countable, uncountable) A mechanical device or support: ▸ A metal support for logs in a fireplace.
    • In the great old-fashioned fireplace behind the high iron dogs a log-fire crackled and snapped. 1902, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Hound of the Baskervilles:
    • The dogs were too hot to touch.
  13. (countable, historical, uncountable) A mechanical device or support: ▸ A double-ended side spike driven through a hole in the flange of a rail on a tramway.
  14. (countable, uncountable) The eighteenth Lenormand card.
  15. (countable, uncountable) A hot dog: a frankfurter, wiener, or similar sausage; or a sandwich made from this.
    • Congressmen gleefully wolfed down every imaginable version of the hot dog – smoked kielbasas, jumbo grillers, Big & Juicy's, kosher dogs and spiced dogs […] 1994 July 21, Faye Fiore, “Congress relishes another franking privilege: Meat lobby puts on the dog with exclusive luncheon for lawmakers – experts on pork”, in Los Angeles Times:
  16. (countable, slang, uncountable) An underdog.
  17. (countable, in-plural, slang, uncountable) Foot; toe.
    • My dogs are barking!
    • You look good in those shoes with your dogs out!
  18. (Cockney, countable, slang, uncountable) (from "dog and bone") Phone or mobile phone.
    • My dog is dead.
  19. (countable, uncountable) One of the cones used to divide up a racetrack when training horses.
  20. (countable, informal, uncountable) Something that performs poorly.
    • That modification turned his Dodge hemi into a dog.
    • He gives his dog-Mota or dog-Fiji in exchange for Pigeon English. 1885, Robert H. Codrington, The Melanesian Languages, page 143:
  21. (countable, informal, uncountable) Something that performs poorly. ▸ A flop; a film that performs poorly at the box office.
    • "When The Alamo was coming out, the word of mouth on it was that it was a dog," Chase said. 2012, Ronald L. Davis, Duke: The Life and Image of John Wayne:
    • Blue was released, and as Redford had predicted, it was a dog. 1969, Ski, volume 34, number 4, page 121:
  22. (archaic, countable, uncountable) A cock, as of a gun.
    • To this succeeded the Snaplance ^([sic]), in which a motion was given to the dog, or cock, and a movable plate of steel, called the frizel, or hammer, was placed vertically above the pan to receive the action of the flint. 1832, The Edinburgh Encyclopaedia, volume 10, page 164:
  23. (countable, qualifier:preceded by definite article, uncountable) A dance having a brief vogue in the 1960s in which the actions of a dog were mimicked.
    • Just like the dog but not so low Like the hully gully but not so slow Now baby swim, baby do the swim. 1964, “C'mon and Swim”, Thomas Coman and Sylvester Stewart (Sly Stone) (lyrics), performed by Bobby Freeman:
    • Hmm, see the girl with the red dress on She can do the dog all night long. 1964, “What'd I Say”, Ray Charles (lyrics), performed by Elvis Presley:
    • We had a lovely dance—luckily it was a slow number. I don't think Mr. Lincoln would have been up to the dog or a fast twist. 1967, Trudy Baker, Rachel Jones, Donald Bain (uncredited), Coffee, Tea, or Me?: The Uninhibited Memoirs of Two Airline Stewardesses, New York: Bantam Books, page 173:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
doggo alternative, childish lexicographic
doggy alternative, childish lexicographic
doggie alternative, childish lexicographic
darg alternative, dialectal, pronunciation-spelling lexicographic
doge Internet, alternative lexicographic
dogs Number=Plur lexicographic
dawg alternative, dialectal, pronunciation-spelling lexicographic
dug alternative, dialectal, pronunciation-spelling lexicographic
dogge alternative, obsolete lexicographic
doggy woggy alternative, childish lexicographic
dorg alternative, dialectal, pronunciation-spelling lexicographic

Coordinates

pup (male adult dog) · cat · wolf · jackal · puppy (male adult dog) · coyote · fox · bitch (male adult dog) · dingo

Deriveds (first 500 of 761)

Big Dog · dog's sleep · dog sleep · dog-whistley · coy dog · let the sleeping dogs lie · dog whisperer · hotdogger · dog doctor · seeing-eye dog · dog tooth · dog day · lion dog · dog-brier · caramelo dog · hotdog · helper dog · yipper dog · dogfought · like cats and dogs · dogshit · dogs have masters, cats have staff · running dog · moon dog · dog fucker · dog nail · bone-crushing dog · seadog · dog fur · dog fennel · a hit dog will holler · curdog · double-dog dare · Black Dog · tin dog · until the last dog is hung · African Lion Dog · fight like cat and dog · coondog · Bắc Hà dog · swing dog · dog and maggot · put on the dog · carriage dog · doglet · gutterdog · Inuit Dog · dogfur · flip-dog · house dog · dog breeder · spotted dog · doggoned · dog-bear · dog whistle · dog-whistling · one man and a dog · dog ass · polygar dog · yallar dog · veggiedog · Brinjaree dog · keep a dog and bark oneself · dogsled · dog flea · working dog · dog heavy · dogfish · dogstail · dogcow · yapper dog · mad-dog skullcap · carrot dog · shepherd dog · everybody and his dog · dogskin · guard-dog · dogwear · doglore · wiener dog · dog poo · Wild Dog Valley · dog curtain · there's life in the old dog yet · dirty dog · dog-in-the-manger · he-dog · female dog · rain dogs and cats · double dog dare · dog man · dog out · dog grass · dogpaddle · dog-nosed · bird dog, bird-dog · not dog · dog it · doggie · dogbone · rat dog · dogsledder · shelter dog · river dog · dogged · puppy dog eyes · Pungsan dog · lap dog · the whole world and his dog · multidog · dog and cat · sticky dog · every dog must have his day · dogproof · dog tired · dogsick · dog-whip · Iceland dog · dog's dirt · dog coupling · Dogrib · dogfight · top dog · that dog don't run · dog collar · dogbolt · dog killer · puppy-dog eyes · dogspike · pour dogs and cats · weiner dog · dog hutch · lie doggo · dog minding · overdog · spoke-dog · chilidog · dog hook · dogdom · bedog · doggess · detection dog · dog musher · shaggy dog tale · dogmonaut · dog tucker · fogdog · dog screw · service dog · kangaroo dog · bench dog · dogsitter · dog-day · fuck the dog · an old dog for a hard road · fox dog · don't keep a dog and bark yourself · dogrel · dog team · dogtooth · faithful as a dog · Goyet dog · hyena dog · shaggy dog story · a man about a dog · New Guinea singing dog · dog tag · painted dog · dog's egg · companion dog · pye-dog · dog officer · on the Internet nobody knows you're a dog · setting dog · dog tax · dog rough · dog eat dog · dog parsley · pi-dog · dog-faced baboon · dog flu · bait dog · dogs have owners, cats have staff · Dog Latin · Jeju dog · dogitude · sheep dog · gag a dog off a gut wagon · dog-leash · Coney dog · dogberryism · dog standard · dog pile · dog town · Azara's dog · cant-dog · prairie dog · dognapping · barking dogs seldom bite · turnspit dog · hot dogged · Fuegian dog · dog chew · sod a dog · flip dog · hang dog · barking dogs never bite · gay dog · guide dog · dog attack · dog bed · dog-tree · dog robber · downward-facing dog · dog's muck · rescue dog · hunting dog · Atlas Mountain Dog · dogs · bandog · Pavlov's dog · dogophile · try it out on the dog · dog house · try it on the dog · dog in the race · coney dog · coachdog · dog-nose · dogstagram · let sleeping dogs lie · beardog · call off the dogs · it's the hit dog that howls · dog book · dog walker · dog-pile · dog spike · yellow dog · doghole · like a big dog · dog's mercury · dogfly · hot diggity dog · dogsleep · dog station · cat and dog · Danish dog · shaggy-dog tale · dog's dangly bits · doghouse · dogpile · Catahoula leopard dog · dog-ape · dogs of war · Dogg · give a dog a bad name and hang him · dogbreath · dog-paddle · hot dog · sundog · merdog · big dog · dog slow · dogsicle · firedog · cats and dogs · dog-violet · wingdog · hair of the dog that bit one · doghead · walk the dog · that old dog won't hunt · spokesdog · the dog ate my homework · chili dog · dogote · work like a dog · every dog has his day · dog Latin · have a dog in the fight · dogling · rain cats and dogs · bulldog · work dog · idle as Ludlam's dog · dognap · sled dog · dog-day cicada · feist dog · feed dog · dog-food · penny dog · dog-slow · dogwatch · dog's mess · dogcheap · small dog syndrome · dog daisy · every dog must have its day · hot-dogged · polar dog · too much pudding will choke a dog · dog hair · beware of the dog · dog-catcher · nondog · sniffer dog · everyone and their dog · dogshank · dog in the manger · that dog won't hunt · Frisian water dog · angledog · roundabout dog · Dogribbed · balloon dog · dog handler · small-eared dog · dogwalking · catch-dog · dogness · hound dog · dogwise · white dog shaker syndrome · dog warden · dog in the hunt · fire dogs · doglover · the proverbial dog that caught the car · every dog has its day · dogdraw · dog's life · dog breeding · teacup dog · salty dog · doghood · assistance dog · dogcart · dog's chance · hot diggety dog · dogship · dog-stone · dog-shot · hop dog · it is easy to find a stick to beat a dog · plum pudding dog · arson dog · wolf dog · fice dog · weredog · doggy dog · corn dog · dog-ear · yard dog · guard dog · nanny dog · dog run · dog bread · Dog Rocks · drug dog · dog-cart · hot-dogger · wheel dog · dog and bone · lazy as Ludlam's dog · hair of the dog · watchdog · curtail dog · dogtor · earth dog · sausage dog · dog cart · tinned dog · dog-cherry · short-eared dog · Canaan dog · hearing-ear dog · dogfennel · guarddog · Chongqing dog · dog flap · wild dog · doggery · designer dog · dog guide · storm cats and dogs · cattle dog · dog eared · dogsit · dogwalk · dog-flea model · dog wheel · aid dog · big dog of the tanyard · dogwood · doggo · fit as a butcher's dog · the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog · snowdog · road dog · on dead dogs · dog's-tail · dog that caught the car · dog scooter · sleuth-dog · dog fight · lead dog · dog-lead · bottom dog · alpha-dog · Dogpatch · dog basket · dog-napper · dagwood dog · down dog · dog-bludgeoner · dog mustard · dog pound · dog-and-pony show · dogshore · dog's-tongue · Chicago dog · Maori dog · dog napper · dog-tired · doggy · support dog · dogfall · dog biscuit · dog fly · dog soldier · Greater Dog · antidog · dogeared · gun dog · dog paddle · dog park · bonedog · walking the dog · cheese dog · dog sledge · foo dog · skittle-dog · beware of dog · the tail wags the dog · dogbit · dogtrot · Sulimov dog · toy dog · dog-proof · dog show · dogspeak · dog-weary · Caucasian shepherd dog · hot-dog bun · junkyard-dog · dog who caught the tire · sleddog · you can't teach an old dog new tricks · dog's fingers · avalanche dog · seizure dog · Dogberry · dog-fight · seeing eye dog · why keep a dog and bark yourself · Dulux dog · devil dog · dogsbody · not enough to hang a dog on · dog-child · wolf-dog · dogicide · singing dog · tail wagging the dog · dog my cats · coon dog · hot-dog · dog and pony show · doglike · lucky dog · Dogberryism · hotdoggery · dog egg · superdog · dogwhip · like a dog with two dicks · dog leash · dog fouling · wonderdog · dog rope · dogward · dog dirt · in a dog's age · coydog · wag the dog · dog tent · have a dog and bark oneself · Catahoula hog dog

Descendants

dog · Kop@Inside-PalmForward 1o@Inside · dog · Dogge · dog · dog · dogi · dog · dagu · dogo · dogo · dogue · doeg · dogo · дог · dok · dogue · dog · doahk

Holonyms

pack

Hypernyms

carnivore · vertebrate · scavenger · mammal · creature · vertebrate · organism · canine · canid · quadruped (animal) · pet · creature · animal · being · canid (animal) · landrace · animal · mammal · predator · creature · animal · organism · mammal · vertebrate

Hyponyms

otterhound (animal) · German shepherd (animal) · borzoi (animal) · mongrel · herding dog · cur · chihuahua (animal) · foxhound (animal) · Affenpinscher · elkhound (animal) · dalmatian · scenthound (animal) · apricot · Afghan hound (animal) · hound dog · pointer (animal) · Chihuahua · setter (animal) · deerhound (animal) · Dobermann · husky · Labrador retriever · Norwegian Elkhound (animal) · gazehound (animal) · bitch · coonhound (animal) · mutt · lap dog · puppy · dachshund (animal) · terrier (animal) · basset hound · spaniel (animal) · guide dog · wolfhound (animal) · retriever (animal) · Mastiff · staghound (animal) · poodle (animal) · New Guinea singing dog (animal) · Irish wolfhound (animal) · bulldog · hound (animal) · American Bulldog · Newfoundland · Russian Wolfhound (animal) · Inuit Dog (animal) · sheepdog (animal) · Carolina dog (animal) · dogsicle · pig dog · bloodhound (animal) · sighthound (animal) · greyhound (animal) · beagle (animal) · shepherd (animal)

Meronyms

coat · dewclaw · tail · claw · fur · paw

Relateds

:Category:Dogs · 'dog

Synonyms

dog meat · Canis domesticus · pig · pawl (mechanical device) · cad (morally reprehensible person) · blackguard (morally reprehensible person) · doge · glutton · click (mechanical device) · detent (mechanical device) · fragrant meat · belly-god · latrant · buzgut · dog · Canis canis · man · gorger · doggo · fool (morally reprehensible person) · Canis saultor · Canis familiarus domesticus · Canis familiarus melitaeus · dog · pawl · click · hound (morally reprehensible person) · epicure · flea bag idiom · stud · helluo · greedyguts · canine · pupperino · gannet · cormorant · canid · scoundrel (morally reprehensible person) · big back · Canis familiarus aegyptius · gourmand · Canis melitaeus · Canis aegyptius · pupper · gormandizer · pooch · trencherman · guy · hound · Canis familiarus molossus · bloke (man) · pallet · woofer · hog · dogflesh · man's best friend · slow belly · heel (morally reprehensible person) · dogiron (metal support for logs) · ratchet · animal · Canis molossus · Canis familiaris saultor · chap · doggy · dude · domestic dog (animal) · dogger · bounder (morally reprehensible person) · andiron (metal support for logs) · fellow · guttle · Homer Simpson · taxonomic names: Canis familiaris (animal) · fire dog (metal support for logs) · sire

Translations (1126)

ln mbwa (animal) · bjn hadupan (animal) · kmr dêlik (dull, unattractive girl or woman) · el κύνας (male canine) · hi कुर्कुर (animal) · enm hound (animal) · ast perru (male canine) · xhd 𐩫𐩡𐩨 (animal) · gin гъвве (animal) · mnc ᡳᠨᡩᠠᡥᡡᠨ (animal) · bug ᨕᨔᨘ (animal) · af honde (animal) · sco dug (animal) · hi श्वान (male canine) · yog atu (animal) · txb ku (animal) · agx гъуй (animal) · ln mbwá (animal) · ang hund (animal) · oj ᐊᓂᒧᔕᒃ (animal) · izh koira (animal) · gl can (animal) · vo dog (animal) · ttt сэг (animal) · lmo can (animal) · mbb asu (animal) · skb หม่า (animal) · yi הונט (animal) · yua peek’ (animal) · aii ܟܲܠܒ݂ܵܐ (animal) · gag köpek (animal) · arn xewa (animal) · sk suka (animal) · io hundulo (male canine) · cnk ui (animal) · rom ʒukli (animal) · nb bikkje (animal) · cdo(animal) · lld cian (animal) · gld инда (animal) · sw mbwa (morally reprehensible person — see also scoundrel) · mel asou (animal) · ms کويوق (animal) · dz ཁྱི (animal) · ty ʻūrī (animal) · nap ccane (animal) · fur čhan (animal) · nia asu (animal) · prg Sunis (animal) · shi aydi (animal) · bo ཁྱི (animal) · sms piânnai (animal) · chr ᎩᏟ (animal) · sk pes (animal) · ae 𐬯𐬞𐬁 (animal) · id anjing (morally reprehensible person — see also scoundrel) · ar كَلْب (animal) · mus éfv (animal) · frp chin (animal) · kpy гʼытгʼын (animal) · ksw ထွံၣ် (animal) · jv baung (animal) · lo ໝາ (animal) · sga(animal) · gez ከልብ (animal) · kok सूणे (animal) · bn কুত্তা (animal) · ms asu jantan (male canine) · vi chó (animal) · ms anjing jantan (male canine) · rgn chên (Cattolica) (animal) · eo hundino (animal) · gue warlagu (animal) · paw asaaki (animal) · tiw kitarringani (animal) · ckt вытэԓгын (animal) · chc tansi (animal) · sh kuca (animal) · crx ɫi (animal) · umb ombwa (animal) · orv песъ (animal) · zku kadli (animal) · apw łichánee (animal) · egy T:z-m-E14 (animal) · bej yaas (animal) · mi pero (morally reprehensible person — see also scoundrel) · xh inja (animal) · tvo kaso (animal) · ban asu (animal) · dlg ыт (animal) · ta நாய் (male canine) · kld buruma (animal) · af hond (morally reprehensible person — see also scoundrel) · sh куче (animal) · gl can (male canine) · ms انجيڠ (animal) · tdd ᥛᥣᥴ (animal) · unm mwekane (animal) · sib acuʼ (animal) · tog garu class 1a (animal) · ka არამზადა (morally reprehensible person — see also scoundrel) · abe adia (animal) · it cagnaccia (dull, unattractive girl or woman) · es vaca (dull, unattractive girl or woman) · it canaglia (morally reprehensible person — see also scoundrel) · eo virhundo (male canine) · ru соба́ка (animal) · new खिचा (animal) · bny asew (animal) · oc can (animal) · sh kuče (animal) · tbl ohu (animal) · ulc и̇ӈда (animal) · sro cani (morally reprehensible person — see also scoundrel) · ban cicing (animal) · bg негодя́й (morally reprehensible person — see also scoundrel) · myv киска (animal) · aa kuta (animal) · orh ŋinaɣɪn (animal) · et koer (animal) · isd ato (animal) · wuh gek (animal) · kpm so (animal) · ms انجيڠ جنتن (male canine) · nag kukur (animal) · mrc xat (animal) · ht chen (animal) · fi uroskoira (male canine) · mwl can (animal) · vif mbwa (animal) · alt ийт (animal) · acm چلب (animal) · pi soṇa (animal) · id anjing (animal) · ru соба́ка (morally reprehensible person — see also scoundrel) · pdt Hunt (animal) · mr कुत्रा (animal) · it zombie (dull, unattractive girl or woman) · vec can (animal) · kva гьвай (animal) · iso arakọ (animal) · cdm कुयः (animal) · kpy гʼытгʼу (animal) · mi peropero (morally reprehensible person — see also scoundrel) · lkt šúŋka (animal) · iba ukui (animal) · luy imbwa (male canine) · sh pas (animal) · mns-nor а̄мп (animal) · lt šuo (male canine) · sn imbwá (animal) · bg псе (animal) · ml പട്ടി (animal) · ar كلب (animal) · bor arigao (animal) · ia can (morally reprehensible person — see also scoundrel) · lt šuva (animal) · kmr dêl (dull, unattractive girl or woman) · bdk хор (animal) · mhr пий (animal) · ja 牡犬 (male canine) · es can (animal) · or କୁକୁର (animal) · jv cemera (animal) · hai x̌a (animal) · ce жӏаьла (animal) · esu qimugtat (animal) · tmr כַּלְבָּא (animal) · es tuso (animal) · gd(animal) · ain レエㇷ゚ (animal) · akk 𒌨 (animal) · unr सेत (animal) · tli keitl (animal) · kic ə́nɛ̏mwə̏ (animal) · wo xaj (animal) · ykg лаамэ (animal) · bn কুত্তা (male canine) · gdj ruaak (animal) · shn မႃ (animal) · kkp kutéw (animal) · zh(animal) · lus ui (animal) · ff rawaandu (animal) · ny galú (animal) · xbi nimpua (animal) · ofs hund (animal) · lb Mupp (animal) · bi dog (animal) · ro câine (morally reprehensible person — see also scoundrel) · sc catteddu (animal) · ta நாய் (animal) · fro chien (male canine) · gml hund (animal) · ccc ma'nali (animal) · tr it (morally reprehensible person — see also scoundrel) · kha ksew (animal) · sro cani (animal) · oj naabesimoog (male canine) · kld mirri (animal) · sdc cani (male canine) · de Schuft (morally reprehensible person — see also scoundrel) · zku putyita (animal) · eo hundiĉo (male canine) · wlm ki (animal) · mlq wulu (animal) · pim atemos (animal) · sc perru (animal) · it cane (animal) · afn ebere (animal) · grc σκύλλος (animal) · rop dog (animal) · evn ӈинакин (animal) · oj ᐊᓂᒧᔥ (animal) · kg mbwa (animal) · wuh haba (animal) · nv łééchąąʼí (animal) · caa c'i' (animal) · itl ӄсҳай (animal) · apj chíníí (animal) · it vigliacco (morally reprehensible person — see also scoundrel) · ro câine (male canine) · mn нохой (male canine) · ml നായ (animal) · sa कुर्कुर (animal) · tfn łinestʼa (male canine) · sd ڪتو (animal) · esu qimugtak (animal) · tiw pulangumwani (animal) · fa سَگ (animal) · bnn asu (animal) · ert asu (animal) · tl aso (animal) · am ከልብ (animal) · arc ܟܠܒܐ (male canine) · lt šuo (animal) · da skurk (morally reprehensible person — see also scoundrel) · ceb iro (animal) · mvv asu (animal) · lb Mupp (male canine) · hi कुक्कुर (male canine) · aau nwoh (animal) · sco dug (male canine) · su anjing (animal) · ybe əʂt (animal) · hi कुतिया (animal) · apw góshé (animal) · war idó (animal) · luq jidá (animal) · tkr хваа (animal) · rm tgaun (animal) · ms jakal jantan (jackal) (male canine) · tiv iwa (animal) · sdn cani (morally reprehensible person — see also scoundrel) · ulb ázá (animal) · mdf пине (animal) · iu ᕿᒻᒥᖅ (animal) · mnp 狗仔 (animal) · dlm cun (animal) · bem imbwa (animal) · igl ábíá (animal) · ru кобе́ль (male canine) · mwl perro (animal) · ms koyote jantan (male canine) · pot nëmosh (animal) · yue(animal) · agj ውሻ (animal) · uk пес (male canine) · ff 𞤪𞤢𞤱𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤵 (animal) · haw ʻīlio (animal) · dv ކުއްތާ (animal) · cu пьсъ (animal) · ar چلب (animal) · tbk ohu (animal) · co ghjacaru (animal) · sq qen (male canine) · si බල්ලා (animal) · zza del (dull, unattractive girl or woman) · sdc cani (animal) · dgr tłı̨ (animal) · ru крокоди́л (dull, unattractive girl or woman) · id anjing jantan (male canine) · ddo гъӏвай (animal) · see ji꞉yäh (animal) · dif kinthala (animal) · ife adzá (animal) · bcl ayam dayo ido (animal) · ryu(animal) · tig ከልብ (animal) · gue guru (animal) · mrw aso (animal) · wyi yirrangin (animal) · id bangsat (morally reprehensible person — see also scoundrel) · pt cachorra (dull, unattractive girl or woman) · fi koira (animal) · mrc hat (animal) · sa शुनक (animal) · ale sabaakax (animal) · lij càgna (animal) · ee avu (animal) · bn কুকুর (animal) · hy շուն (animal) · niv ӄан (animal) · mg alika (animal) · krl koira (animal) · ss înjá (animal) · kmc nguap (animal) · msq cawek (animal) · pot nabésmok (male canine) · ja(animal) · sva ჟეღ (animal) · hsb pos (animal) · pjt papa (animal) · vot koirõ (animal) · kbd хьэ (animal) · lou shin (animal) · kmr se (morally reprehensible person — see also scoundrel) · ms موسڠ جنتن (male canine) · esh اِسپَ (male canine) · ca cutxu (animal) · vmb dog (animal) · mi kurī (animal) · sdn cani (animal) · ms جاکل جنتن (male canine) · uk соба́ка (male canine) · qua šǫ́ke (male canine) · non bikkja (animal) · mfy čū’u (animal) · bgz asu (animal) · gay asu (animal) · frr hün (animal) · ga madadh (animal) · ddo бахӏри (animal) · gun jagua (animal) · ja 悪党 (morally reprehensible person — see also scoundrel) · sl psica (animal) · sux 𒌨 (animal) · iru நாய் (animal) · nl hond (animal) · xsr कि (animal) · nhn chichi (animal) · nio баӈ (animal) · mga matad (animal) · mn ᠨᠣᠬᠠᠢ (animal) · lbe ккаччи (animal) · rel kar (animal) · ljp asu (animal) · tn ntša (animal) · dv ބަޅު (animal) · koi пон (animal) · rom ʒukel (animal) · kea katxor (animal) · orv пьсъ (animal) · tab ху (animal) · jv sagawon (animal) · qu allgo (animal) · pis dog (animal) · es perro (morally reprehensible person — see also scoundrel) · ht chyen (animal) · ru су́ка (morally reprehensible person — see also scoundrel) · osa šóᴺke (animal) · pqm olomussis (animal) · fro chien (animal) · arc ܟܠܒܬܐ (animal) · mvv uku' (animal) · vi khuyển (animal) · sa कुक्कुर (morally reprehensible person — see also scoundrel) · pcm dọg (animal) · lv suns (male canine) · ood gogs (animal) · as কুকুৰ (animal) · de Hund (animal) · ru по́длая (morally reprehensible person — see also scoundrel) · osx hund (animal) · okr obirí (animal) · fr thon (dull, unattractive girl or woman) · fon agla (animal) · luq guá guá (animal) · pl basior (male canine) · aii ܟܲܠܒܬܵܐ (animal) · pt cão (animal) · te కుక్క (animal) · pi สุนะขะ (animal) · cv йытӑ (animal) · bcl ayam dayo ido (male canine) · umu mwaakaneew (animal) · nds Tiff (animal) · kn ನಾಯಿ (animal) · clm sqáx̣əʔ (animal) · lv kuce (animal) · cad díˀṣi (animal) · de Schabracke (dull, unattractive girl or woman) · el σκυλί (animal) · bph хай (animal) · gan(animal) · yii gudaga (animal) · cay só꞉wa꞉s (animal) · es perro (animal) · ium juv (animal) · zza sipe (male canine) · eu txakur (animal) · zh гу (animal) · fi konna (morally reprehensible person — see also scoundrel) · mtq chỏ (animal) · ve mmbwa (animal) · ast cusu (animal) · shu كلب (animal) · tk köpek (animal) · ko(animal) · kap во (animal) · na robar (animal) · km ឆ្កែ (animal) · gl cuzo (animal) · br kiez (animal) · gad atu (animal) · sc cane (animal) · min anjiang (animal) · th หมา (animal) · wyb mirri (animal) · oac инаки (animal) · an chin (animal) · aer akngwelye (animal) · lmo(animal) · tin хва (animal) · so ey (animal) · bxd kʰui³⁵ (animal) · ts mbyana (animal) · miq yul (animal) · ain セタ (animal) · cho ofi (animal) · hai x̲a (animal) · alr г'ытг'ын (animal) · moh é꞉rhar (animal) · frm chien (animal) · tao ino (animal) · eve ҥин (animal) · non hundr (animal) · zza delek (dull, unattractive girl or woman) · arc ܟܠܒܐ (animal) · ja(animal) · bbc biang (animal) · nci itzcuintli (animal) · hi कुकुर (animal) · he כֶּלֶב (animal) · ill asu (animal) · pot nabésmo (male canine) · cjs адай (animal) · cjm asau (animal) · ru жа́ба (dull, unattractive girl or woman) · nay keli (animal) · mga(animal) · csm čukú·- (animal) · gmh hunt (animal) · roa-opt can (animal) · sh kučka (animal) · vo hidog (male canine) · naq arib (animal) · it cane (male canine) · ayz mtah (animal) · et peni (animal) · am ውሻ (animal) · gin кача (animal) · cja sau (animal) · tr it (animal) · ky ит (animal) · ms musang jantan (male canine) · bla imitáá (animal) · oj naabesim (male canine) · pmf asu (animal) · bdk тӏартӏа (animal) · kmb imbua (animal) · csb tósz (animal) · ar چلب (morally reprehensible person — see also scoundrel) · ani хой (animal) · nds Rööd (male canine) · kqr tasu (animal) · ckb سەگ (animal) · kaw asu (animal) · la canis (male canine) · chk konak (animal) · aht łicʼae (animal) · ru подле́ц (morally reprehensible person — see also scoundrel) · sg mbo (animal) · xkl acuʼ (animal) · ar كَلْب (animal) · bni mbwa (animal) · iba asu (animal) · rgn chën (animal) · kmr se (male canine) · neg ни̇нахи̇н (animal) · iro-min tsiyæshö'ö (animal) · kca-nor амп (animal) · zza kutte (animal) · sm 'ulī (animal) · pi သုနခ (animal) · ota ایت (animal) · cic ofi' (animal) · dlm kun (animal) · sjt pienɨj (animal) · bun thumɔɛ (animal)

wikipedia: All Things Considered · wikidata: Q25324 · wikidata: Q144 · wikipedia: NPR

Source: en.wiktionary, “dog” (noun), dump 20260902, contributors via the page history. Text licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

dog en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

  • (UK) audio
  • (UK) audio
  • (US) audio
  • /dɒɡ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • /dɔɡ/ without the cot–caught merger
  • /dɑɡ/ (cot-caught-merger)
  • (US) audio cot-caught
  • dôg (General-American)
  • [dɔ(ː)ɡ] (Canada)

Etymology

Etymology tree Old English [Term?]? Proto-Germanic *-gô Proto-West Germanic *-gō Old English -ga Old English dogga Middle English dogge English dog Inherited from Middle English dogge (akin to Scots dug), from Old English dogga, docga, of uncertain origin. The original meaning seems to have been a common dog, as opposed to a well-bred one, or something like 'cur', and perhaps later came to be used for stocky dogs. Possibly a pet-form diminutive with suffix -ga (compare frocga (“frog”), *picga (“pig”)), appended to a base *dog-, *doc- of unclear origin and meaning. One possibility is Old English dox (“dark, swarthy”) (compare frocga from frox). Another proposal is that it derives from Proto-West Germanic *dugan (“to be suitable”), the origin of Old English dugan (“to be good, worthy, useful”), English dow, Dutch deugen, German taugen. The theory goes that it could have been an epithet for dogs, commonly used by children, meaning "good/useful animal". Another one is that it is related to *docce (“stock, muscle”), from Proto-West Germanic *dokkā (“round mass, ball, muscle, doll”), whence English dock (“stumpy tail”). In 14th-century England, hound (from Old English hund) was the general word for all domestic canines, and dog referred to a subtype resembling the modern mastiff and bulldog. By the 16th century, dog had become the general word, and hound had begun to refer only to breeds used for hunting. In the 16th century, the word dog was adopted by several continental European languages as their word for mastiff. Despite similarities in forms and meaning, it is not related to Mbabaram dog.

Meanings

  1. (transitive) To pursue with the intent to catch.
  2. (transitive) To follow in an annoying or harassing way.
    • The woman cursed him so that trouble would dog his every step.
    • While the PLA has achieved significant technological milestones in recent years, it has also been dogged by a corruption scandal in its ranks. A number of senior officials have been purged, raising questions about how ready the PLA is to fight a war from a leadership perspective. 2026 January 20, Patrick Martin, “China's air force has technology that rivals the US's and it could be pivotal in any conflict over Taiwan”, in Australian Broadcasting Corporation, archived from the original on 20 Jan 2026, News:
    • ‘Notwithstanding Mr Maxwell’s acknowledged abilities and energy, he is not in our opinion a person who can be relied upon to exercise proper stewardship of a publicly quoted company.’ These words, from the conclusion of the interim report by two Department of Trade inspectors in 1970, were to dog Maxwell for the rest of his business career. 1991 November 6, Dennis Barker, Christopher Sylvester, “Robert Maxwell obituary”, in The Guardian:
    • But this is not an Athletic that ever looks comfortable at the back – a criticism that has often dogged Marcelo Bielsa's sides. 2012 May 9, Jonathan Wilson, “Europa League: Radamel Falcao's Atlético Madrid rout Athletic Bilbao”, in the Guardian:
    • […] they were discovered in a very improper manner by the husband of the gypsy, who, from jealousy it seems, had kept a watchful eye over his wife, and had dogged her to the place, where he found her in the arms of her gallant. 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC:
    • Yet Google, which was founded in 1998, is dogged by the perception that its best days are behind it. 2021 June 21, Daisuke Wakabayashi, “Google Executives See Cracks in Their Company’s Success”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
  3. (transitive) To fasten a hatch securely.
    • It is very important to dog down these hatches.
  4. (intransitive, qualifier:emerging usage in UK) To watch, or participate, in sexual activity in a public place.
    • Lightning [is a] burst of charged particles that lights up the sky and allows onlookers to see who's dogging in the bushes without using a flashlight. 2012, The Onion Book of Known Knowledge, page 118:
    • I admit that I like to dog at my local country park.
  5. (intransitive, transitive) To intentionally restrict one's productivity as employee; to work at the slowest rate that goes unpunished.
    • A surprise inspection of the night shift found that some workers were dogging it.
  6. (slang, transitive) To criticize.
    • Harmon Rabb (David James Elliott): Are you dogging Harm's special meatless meatloaf? Sarah MacKenzie (Catherine Bell): Let's put it this way. If you were to make the Harmon Special on this ship, they'd have to unload it with the toxic waste. 1999 March 30, “Shakedown”, in JAG, season 4, episode 18, via CBS:
  7. (transitive) To divide (a watch) with a comrade.
    • A. We never stood 4 to 8 p.m. watches, sir. We dogged our watches. Q. I suppose that is 6 to 8 p.m., then; it is a little indistinct. I mean the second dog watch. 1902, Winfield Scott Schley, Record of Proceedings of a Court of Inquiry:
    • Meanwhile, we dogged the watch sections so that both halves of the crew could fetch full sea bags of uniforms and gear […] 2015, Tom Vetter, 30,000 Leagues Undersea:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
dogs Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
dogge alternative, obsolete lexicographic
dogged Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
dogged Tense=Past lexicographic
doggo alternative, childish lexicographic
dawg alternative, dialectal, pronunciation-spelling lexicographic
doggie alternative, childish lexicographic
dorg alternative, dialectal, pronunciation-spelling lexicographic
doggy alternative, childish lexicographic
darg alternative, dialectal, pronunciation-spelling lexicographic
dug alternative, dialectal, pronunciation-spelling lexicographic
doggy woggy alternative, childish lexicographic
doge Internet, alternative lexicographic
dogging Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic

Deriveds

all dogged up

Synonyms

tail · pursue · chase · tag · go after · chase after · goldbrick · track · trail · soldier

Translations (28)

de befestigen (fasten a hatch securely) · ru преследовать (pursue with the intent to catch) · de plagen (follow in an annoying way) · bg ходя по петите (follow in an annoying way) · nl vastmaken (fasten a hatch securely) · de verfolgen (pursue with the intent to catch) · bg преследвам (pursue with the intent to catch) · de hetzen (pursue with the intent to catch) · fi vainota (follow in an annoying way) · nl jagen (pursue with the intent to catch) · ka ნადირობა (pursue with the intent to catch) · de an den Fersen bleiben (follow in an annoying way) · nl vervolgen (pursue with the intent to catch) · fi sulkea (fasten a hatch securely) · nl bevestigen (fasten a hatch securely) · de fixieren (fasten a hatch securely) · de sichern (fasten a hatch securely) · de verfolgen (follow in an annoying way) · fi lukita (fasten a hatch securely) · fi jahdata (pursue with the intent to catch) · de jagen (pursue with the intent to catch) · nl plagen (follow in an annoying way) · de festmachen (fasten a hatch securely) · fi ahdistaa (follow in an annoying way) · nl pesten (follow in an annoying way) · fi jahdata (follow in an annoying way) · es perseguir (pursue with the intent to catch) · fi ajaa takaa (pursue with the intent to catch)

wikipedia: All Things Considered · wikipedia: NPR

Source: en.wiktionary, “dog” (verb), dump 20260902, contributors via the page history. Text licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

dog en · ADJ · etymology 2

Pronunciation

  • (UK) audio
  • (UK) audio
  • (US) audio
  • /dɒɡ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • /dɔɡ/ without the cot–caught merger
  • /dɑɡ/ (cot-caught-merger)
  • (US) audio cot-caught
  • dôg (General-American)
  • [dɔ(ː)ɡ] (Canada)

Etymology

Clipping of dogshit.

Meanings

  1. (not-comparable, slang) Of inferior quality; very bad.
    • Oh man, this game is absolutely dog!

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
doggie alternative, childish lexicographic
dawg alternative, dialectal, pronunciation-spelling lexicographic
doggo alternative, childish lexicographic
dogge alternative, obsolete lexicographic
doge Internet, alternative lexicographic
dorg alternative, dialectal, pronunciation-spelling lexicographic
doggy woggy alternative, childish lexicographic
darg alternative, dialectal, pronunciation-spelling lexicographic
doggy alternative, childish lexicographic
dug alternative, dialectal, pronunciation-spelling lexicographic

Relateds

flea bag · bark · cynomorphism · canine · cynomorphic