dogsbody en · NOUN
Pronunciation
Etymology
From dog + -s- + body. 1818, British navy slang (dog's body), originally derogatory reference to unappetizing pease pudding (compare dog's breakfast), as if it were made of mashed dog meat. In 20th century applied to low-ranked sailors, thence menial servants in wider usage.
Meanings
-
(Ireland, UK) A person who does menial work, a servant.
Who chose this face for me? This dogsbody to rid of vermin.
1922 February 2, James Joyce, “[Episode 1]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company […], →OCLC:Furthermore, there are still rather backward opinions in our society about the role of a translator. A translator is often regarded as a linguistic dogsbody.
1995, Paul Kussmaul, Training The Translator, John Benjamins Publishing Co, page 146:'Cause I, I wanna be anarchy! / No dogsbody!
1976, “Anarchy in the U.K.”, performed by Sex Pistols:That's just Baldrick, my dogsbody.
1994, Blackadder (television production):
-
(alt-of, alternative) Alternative form of dog's body (“pease pudding”)
alt of dog's body
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| dogsbodies | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Synonyms
batman · handyman · factotum · odd job · grunt · jack of all trades · workhorse · gofer
Translations (12)
cs poskok (Person who does menial work) · mi tonotono (Person who does menial work) · de Handlanger (Person who does menial work) · de Scherge (Person who does menial work) · fi juoksupoika (Person who does menial work) · fr petite main (Person who does menial work) · de Diener (Person who does menial work) · fr larbin (Person who does menial work) · eo sendito (Person who does menial work) · eo komisiito (Person who does menial work) · es mandado (Person who does menial work) · eo kuriero (Person who does menial work)