dogtor en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- /ˈɖɔɡ.ʈəɾ/ (India)
- /ˈdɔːɡ.tə/ (Received-Pronunciation) conservative
- /ˈdɔɡ.təɹ/ (Scotland)
- /ˈdɔɡ.tə/ (Australia)
- /ˈdɒɡ.təɹ/ (Canada, standard)
- /ˈdɔɡ.təɹ/ (General-American) without the cot–caught merger
- /ˈɖɔɡ.ʈɜː(ɾ)/ (India)
- dŏg′tər
- /ˈdɑɡ.təɹ/ (General-American, cot-caught-merger)
- /ˈdɑɡ.təɹ/ (Canada, dialectal)
- /ˈdɒɡ.tə/ (Received-Pronunciation, contemporary)
- /ˈdɒɡ.tə/ (New-Zealand)
Etymology
Blend of dog + doctor.
Meanings
-
(humorous, informal) A veterinarian who treats dogs.
His red hair was shaggy and in need of a trim, and his rangy body was clad in jeans and a slightly ratty gray sweatshirt that said “Trust me, I'm a dogtor," instead of a three-piece suit.
2022, Deborah Blake, Claws for Suspicion, New York: Berkley Books, →ISBN, page 271:Where do you take a sick dog? To the dogtor. [illustration of a dog being carried on a stretcher by two doctors]
1999, Joanna Cole, Stephanie Calmenson, Give a Dog a Bone, New York: Scholastic, →ISBN, page 75:I took Sandy to the dogtor Tuesday and she had to spend the night in the dogspital. I've got her on the same schedule as me to take medications and I'm going to have to bathe her every other day with her prescription shampoo to get her skin to heal. The poor little critter has been scratching constantly and it may take a while to get her better.
2014 March 28, The Daring Dufas, “'rat from hell'”, in alt.home.repair (Usenet):I'll bet whoever did this was trying to steal my dog. Now I'll have to take the poor pooch to a dogtor.
1997, Marie Jacks, A. E. Parker, The Vanishing Vampire (Clue; 15), New York: Scholastic, →ISBN, page 18:
-
(humorous, informal) A dog who is also a doctor.
Of course we try to maintain the highest human standards. But it's true; we do have an extra advantage. We have a staffer of another species. His name is Zoro, our three-legged healer, the Dogtor, our little friend.
2003, Z Budapest, Rasta Dogs, Xlibris Corporation, →ISBN, page 125:Well, there’s really nothing I can do to change the minds of dogs like Dogtor Daisy other than to live my life and lead my pack according to what is good, right, and healthy for my family. That includes two good walks per day, plenty of rest, and an appropriate ration of daily kibble and water, or appropriate human substitutes.
2012, Elliott Foster, Retrieving Isaac & Jason, Saint Paul, MN: Hiawatha Press, →ISBN, page 172:[image by @wrigleyandtheo of two dogs in medical uniforms] Welcome to the dogtor office / no insurance required fren / after minimal research / we diagnose u with a shortage of / chimken
2020, Doing Things Media, Doggos Doing Things: The Hilarious World of Puppos, Borkers, and Other Good Bois, Running Press, →ISBN:[a story in which Snoopy takes over Lucy Van Pelt's psychiatric booth]
2014, Charles M. Schulz, “The Dogtor Is In”, in Peanuts, volume 4, Los Angeles: KaBOOM!, →ISBN, page 20:What kind of dog works in a hospital? A dogtor. [illustration of a dog, dressed as a doctor, putting a thermometer in a human child's mouth]
1988, Meyer Seltzer, Petcetera: The Pet Riddle Book, Niles, IL: Albert Whitman & Co., →ISBN:In Chew on Things – It Helps You Think: Words of Wisdom from a Worried Canine, Casey B. Worrywart, Dogtor of Philosophy, explains his window-seat views on life. He shares how he managed to deal with his own ups and downs, with matter-of-factness and humor, inspiring fellow worrywart canines (and people) to cope better.
2007, Iris Bell, Chew on Things, Tucson, AZ: Creative Bookworm Press, →ISBN, page xiii:“Pray, tell me, Dean. In what manner do these dogs assist the students? Do they teach?” “In a manner of speaking, yes,” the dean replied. “Do they hold doctorate of philosophy degrees, as does my companion, Dogtor Watson?” Furlock asked.
2021 fall/winter, “A study in maroon and orange”, in Tracks Magazine, Blacksburg, VA: Virginia–Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, →OCLC, page 17:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| dogtors | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Synonyms
dog doctor (both senses)