English

Etymology

Middle English dogge < Old English docga , of unknown origin.

Pronunciation

• (UK): /dɒg/, /dQg/
• (US): /dɔg/, /dOg/
• (US, speakers with ɑ-ɔ merger ): /dɑg/, /dag/

Noun

dog (Plural: dogs)

1. A member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds.

   The dog barked all night.

2. A male dog, as opposed to a bitch.
3. (derogatory) A dull, unattractive girl or woman.

   She's a real dog.

4. (slang) A man.

   You lucky dog!

5. (derogatory) Someone who is morally reprehensible.

   You dirty dog.

   Quotations

   • 1599 — Robert Greene, Alphonsus, King of Aragon (1599). Act 3.

     Blasphemous dog, I wonder that the earth

     Doth cease from renting vnderneath thy feete,

     To swallow vp those cankred corpes of thine.

6. A hinged catch that fits into a notch of a ratchet to move a wheel forward or prevent it from moving backward.
7. A metal support for logs in a fireplace.

   The dogs were too hot to touch.

Scientific name

• Canis lupus familiaris

Synonyms

• (animal): domestic dog , hound
• (man): bloke (British), chap (British), fellow, guy
• (morally reprehensible person): cad, bounder , blackguard, hound, heel, scoundrel
• (hinged catch): click, detent, pawl
• (metal support for logs): andiron, firedog , dogiron

Related terms

• dogged
• dog-eared
• dog collar
• dog star
• cattle dog
• guide dog
• lapdog
• seeing-eye dog
• sheepdog

Translations

animal

Translations

male dog

Translations

dull, unattractive girl or woman

slang: man See guy

Translations

morally reprehensible person See scoundrel

hinged catch See pawl

metal support for logs See andiron

Transitive verb

to dog (dogs, dogged, dogging)

1. To go after with the intent to catch.
2. To follow in an annoying way, to constantly be affected by.

   Trouble dogged his every step.

3. (nautical) To fasten a hatch securely.

   It is very important to dog down these hatches...

4. (emerging usage in UK) To watch, or participate, in sexual activity in a public place, on the pretence of walking the dog; see also dogging.

   Someone has admitted to going dogging at his local country park.

Synonyms

• (go after with intent to catch): chase, chase after , go after , pursue, tag, tail, track, trail

Proverbs and Idioms

• dog tired
• dog-eat-dog
• dog's life
• every dog has its day
• go to the dogs
• rain cats and dogs
• hair of the dog

See also

• bitch
• canine
• cynomorphic
• cynomorphism
• doggy
• flea bag
• hound
• pup , puppy

See also

• Wikipedia article on dogs

Dutch

Pronunciation

• IPA : /dɔx/

Noun

dog m (Plural: doggen )

1. mastiff

Swedish

Verb

dog

1. (past tense of dö ) died

Mbabaram

Noun

dog

1. dog

(Not a borrowing from English, but an independent and regular development from the proto-Australian word *gudaga, thus: Mbabaram dog < *dwog(a) < *udwoga < *gudwaga < Proto-Austr. *gudaga . Cf. Dyirbal guda.)