Adjacent Words

Dog definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

DOG, n.
1. A species of quadrupeds, belonging to the genus Canis, of many varieties, as the mastiff, the hound, the spaniel, the shepherds dog, the terrier, the harrier, the bloodhound, etc.
2. It is used for male, when applied to several other animals; as a dog-fox; a dog-otter; dog-ape. It is prefixed to other words, denoting what is mean, degenerate or worthless; as dog-rose.
3. An andiron, so named from the figure of a dogs head on the top.
4. A term of reproach or contempt given to a man.
5. A constellation called Sirius or Canicula. [See Dog-day.]
6. An iron hook or bar with a sharp fang, used by seamen.
7. An iron used by sawyers to fasten a log of timber in a saw-pit.
8. A gay young man; a buck. [Not in use.]
To give or throw to the dogs, is to throw away, as useless.
To go to the dogs, is to be ruined.
DOG, v.t. To hunt; to follow insidiously or indefatigably; to follow close; to urge; to worry with importunity.
I have been pursued, dogged and and way-laid.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
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" [syn: dog, domestic dog, Canis familiaris]
2: a dull unattractive unpleasant girl or woman; "she got a reputation as a frump"; "she's a real dog" [syn: frump, dog]
3: informal term for a man; "you lucky dog"
4: someone who is morally reprehensible; "you dirty dog" [syn: cad, bounder, blackguard, dog, hound, heel]
5: a smooth-textured sausage of minced beef or pork usually smoked; often served on a bread roll [syn: frank, frankfurter, hotdog, hot dog, dog, wiener, wienerwurst, weenie]
6: a hinged catch that fits into a notch of a ratchet to move a wheel forward or prevent it from moving backward [syn: pawl, detent, click, dog]
7: metal supports for logs in a fireplace; "the andirons were too hot to touch" [syn: andiron, firedog, dog, dog- iron] v
1: go after with the intent to catch; "The policeman chased the mugger down the alley"; "the dog chased the rabbit" [syn: chase, chase after, trail, tail, tag, give chase, dog, go after, track]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Usage: often attributive Etymology: Middle English, from Old English docga Date: before 12th century 1. a. canid; especially a highly variable domestic mammal (Canis familiaris) closely related to the gray wolf b. a male dog; also a male usually carnivorous mammal 2. a. a worthless or contemptible person b. fellow, chap <a lazy dog> <you lucky dog> 3. a. any of various usually simple mechanical devices for holding, gripping, or fastening that consist of a spike, bar, or hook b. andiron 4. uncharacteristic or affected stylishness or dignity <put on the dog> 5. capitalized either of the constellations Canis Major or Canis Minor 6. plural feet 7. plural ruin <going to the dogs> 8. one inferior of its kind <the movie was a dog>: as a. an investment not worth its price b. an undesirable piece of merchandise 9. an unattractive person; especially an unattractive girl or woman 10. hot dog 1 • doglike adjective II. adjective Date: 14th century 1. canine 2. spurious; especially unlike that used by native speakers or writers <dog Latin> <dog French> III. transitive verb (dogged; dogging) Date: 1519 1. a. to hunt, track, or follow like a hound <dogged her every move> b. to worry as if by pursuit with dogs ; plague <dogged by his past failures> c. to bother or pester persistently <dogged him about his grades> 2. to fasten with a dog IV. adverb Date: 1526 extremely, utterly <dog-tired>

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 any four-legged flesh-eating animal of the genus Canis, of many breeds domesticated and wild, kept as pets or for work or sport. 2 the male of the dog, or of the fox (also dog-fox) or wolf (also dog-wolf). 3 colloq. a a despicable person. b a person or fellow of a specified kind (a lucky dog). c US & Austral. sl. an informer; a traitor. d sl. a horse that is difficult to handle. 4 a mechanical device for gripping. 5 US sl. something poor; a failure. 6 = FIREDOG. 7 (in pl.; prec. by the) Brit. colloq. greyhound-racing. --v.tr. (dogged, dogging) 1 follow closely and persistently; pursue, track. 2 Mech. grip with a dog. Phrases and idioms: die like a dog die miserably or shamefully. dog-biscuit a hard thick biscuit for feeding dogs. dog-box Austral. sl. a compartment in a railway carriage without a corridor. dog-clutch Mech. a device for coupling two shafts in the transmission of power, one member having teeth which engage with slots in another. dog-collar 1 a collar for a dog. 2 a colloq. a clerical collar. b a straight high collar. dog days the hottest period of the year (reckoned in antiquity from the heliacal rising of the dog-star). dog-eared (of a book etc.) with the corners worn or battered with use. dog-eat-dog colloq. ruthlessly competitive. dog-end sl. a cigarette-end. dog-fall a fall in which wrestlers touch the ground together. dog in the manger a person who prevents others from using something, although that person has no use for it. dog-leg (or -legged) bent like a dog's hind leg. dog-leg hole Golf a hole at which a player cannot aim directly at the green from the tee. dog-paddle n. an elementary swimming-stroke like that of a dog. --v.intr. swim using this stroke. dog-rose a wild hedge-rose, Rosa canina: also called brier-rose. dog's breakfast (or dinner) colloq. a mess. dog's disease Austral. sl. influenza. dog's life a life of misery or harassment. dog's meat horse's or other flesh as food for dogs; carrion. dogs of war poet. the havoc accompanying war. dog's- (or dog-) tail any grass of the genus Cynosurus, esp. C. cristatus, a common pasture grass. dog-star the chief star of the constellation Canis Major or Minor, esp. Sirius. dog's tooth (in full dog's tooth violet) 1 any liliaceous plant of the genus Erythronium, esp. E. dens-canis with speckled leaves, purple flowers, and a toothed perianth. 2 = dog-tooth 2. dog-tired tired out. dog-tooth 1 a small pointed ornament or moulding esp. in Norman and Early English architecture. 2 a broken check pattern used esp. in cloth for suits. dog trials Austral. & NZ a public competitive display of the skills of sheepdogs. dog-violet any of various scentless wild violets, esp. Viola riviniana. go to the dogs sl. deteriorate, be ruined. hair of the dog further drink to cure the effects of drink. like a dog's dinner colloq. smartly or flashily (dressed, arranged, etc.). not a dog's chance no chance at all. put on dog colloq. behave pretentiously. Derivatives: doglike adj. Etymology: OE docga, of unkn. orig.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Sundog Sun"dog`, n. (Meteor.) A fragmentary rainbow; a small rainbow near the horizon; -- called also dog and weathergaw.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Dog Dog (d[o^]g), n. [AS. docga; akin to D. dog mastiff, Dan. dogge, Sw. dogg.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) A quadruped of the genus Canis, esp. the domestic dog (C. familiaris). Note: The dog is distinguished above all others of the inferior animals for intelligence, docility, and attachment to man. There are numerous carefully bred varieties, as the beagle, bloodhound, bulldog, coachdog, collie, Danish dog, foxhound, greyhound, mastiff, pointer, poodle, St. Bernard, setter, spaniel, spitz dog, terrier, etc. There are also many mixed breeds, and partially domesticated varieties, as well as wild dogs, like the dingo and dhole. (See these names in the Vocabulary.) 2. A mean, worthless fellow; a wretch. What is thy servant, which is but a dog, that he should do this great thing? -- 2 Kings viii. 13 (Rev. Ver. ) 3. A fellow; -- used humorously or contemptuously; as, a sly dog; a lazy dog. [Colloq.] 4. (Astron.) One of the two constellations, Canis Major and Canis Minor, or the Greater Dog and the Lesser Dog. Canis Major contains the Dog Star (Sirius). 5. An iron for holding wood in a fireplace; a firedog; an andiron. 6. (Mech.) (a) A grappling iron, with a claw or claws, for fastening into wood or other heavy articles, for the purpose of raising or moving them. (b) An iron with fangs fastening a log in a saw pit, or on the carriage of a sawmill. (c) A piece in machinery acting as a catch or clutch; especially, the carrier of a lathe, also, an adjustable stop to change motion, as in a machine tool. Note: Dog is used adjectively or in composition, commonly in the sense of relating to, or characteristic of, a dog. It is also used to denote a male; as, dog fox or g-fox, a male fox; dog otter or dog-otter, dog wolf, etc.; -- also to denote a thing of cheap or mean quality; as, dog Latin. A dead dog, a thing of no use or value. --1 Sam. xxiv. 14. A dog in the manger, an ugly-natured person who prevents others from enjoying what would be an advantage to them but is none to him. Dog ape (Zo["o]l.), a male ape. Dog cabbage, or Dog's cabbage (Bot.), a succulent herb, native to the Mediterranean region (Thelygonum Cynocrambe). Dog cheap, very cheap. See under Cheap. Dog ear (Arch.), an acroterium. [Colloq.] Dog flea (Zo["o]l.), a species of flea (Pulex canis) which infests dogs and cats, and is often troublesome to man. In America it is the common flea. See Flea, and Aphaniptera. Dog grass (Bot.), a grass (Triticum caninum) of the same genus as wheat. Dog Latin, barbarous Latin; as, the dog Latin of pharmacy. Dog lichen (Bot.), a kind of lichen (Peltigera canina) growing on earth, rocks, and tree trunks, -- a lobed expansion, dingy green above and whitish with fuscous veins beneath. Dog louse (Zo["o]l.), a louse that infests the dog, esp. H[ae]matopinus piliferus; another species is Trichodectes latus. Dog power, a machine operated by the weight of a dog traveling in a drum, or on an endless track, as for churning. Dog salmon (Zo["o]l.), a salmon of northwest America and northern Asia; -- the gorbuscha; -- called also holia, and hone. Dog shark. (Zo["o]l.) See Dogfish. Dog's meat, meat fit only for dogs; refuse; offal. Dog Star. See in the Vocabulary. Dog wheat (Bot.), Dog grass. Dog whelk (Zo["o]l.), any species of univalve shells of the family Nassid[ae], esp. the Nassa reticulata of England. To give, or throw, to the dogs, to throw away as useless. ``Throw physic to the dogs; I'll none of it.'' --Shak. To go to the dogs, to go to ruin; to be ruined.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Dog Dog, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dogged; p. pr. & vb. n. Dogging.] To hunt or track like a hound; to follow insidiously or indefatigably; to chase with a dog or dogs; to worry, as if by dogs; to hound with importunity. I have been pursued, dogged, and waylaid. -- Pope. Your sins will dog you, pursue you. --Burroughs. Eager ill-bred petitioners, who do not so properly supplicate as hunt the person whom they address to, dogging him from place to place, till they even extort an answer to their rude requests. -- South.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(dogs, dogging, dogged) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. 1. A dog is a very common four-legged animal that is often kept by people as a pet or to guard or hunt. There are many different breeds of dog. The British are renowned as a nation of dog lovers. N-COUNT 2. You use dog to refer to a male dog, or to the male of some related species such as wolves or foxes. Is this a dog or a bitch? ? bitch N-COUNT 3. If someone calls a man a dog, they strongly disapprove of him. N-COUNT [disapproval] 4. People use dog to refer to something that they consider unsatisfactory or of poor quality. (AM INFORMAL) N-COUNT [disapproval] 5. If problems or injuries dog you, they are with you all the time. His career has been dogged by bad luck. = plague VERB: V n 6. see also dogged, guide dog, prairie dog, sniffer dog 7. You describe something as a dog's breakfast or dog's dinner in order to express your disapproval of it, for example because it is very untidy, badly organized, or badly done. (BRIT INFORMAL) = mess PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v [disapproval] 8. You use dog eat dog to express your disapproval of a situation where everyone wants to succeed and is willing to harm other people in order to do so. It is very much dog eat dog out there... = cut-throat PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR n [disapproval] 9. If you say that something is going to the dogs, you mean that it is becoming weaker and worse in quality. (INFORMAL) They sit in impotent opposition while the country goes to the dogs. PHRASE: V inflects [disapproval]

Easton's Bible Dictionary

frequently mentioned both in the Old and New Testaments. Dogs were used by the Hebrews as a watch for their houses (Isa. 56:10), and for guarding their flocks (Job 30:1). There were also then as now troops of semi-wild dogs that wandered about devouring dead bodies and the offal of the streets (1 Kings 14:11; 16:4; 21:19, 23; 22:38; Ps. 59:6, 14).

As the dog was an unclean animal, the terms "dog," "dog's head," "dead dog," were used as terms of reproach or of humiliation (1 Sam. 24:14; 2 Sam. 3:8; 9:8; 16:9). Paul calls false apostles "dogs" (Phil. 3:2). Those who are shut out of the kingdom of heaven are also so designated (Rev. 22:15). Persecutors are called "dogs" (Ps. 22:16). Hazael's words, "Thy servant which is but a dog" (2 Kings 8:13), are spoken in mock humility=impossible that one so contemptible as he should attain to such power.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

kelebh; (compare Arabic kelb, "dog"); kuon; (and diminutive kunarion): References to the dog, both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament, are usually of a contemptuous character. A dog, and especially a dead dog, is used as a figure of insignificance. Goliath says to David (1Sa 17:43 ): "Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves?" David says to Saul (1Sa 24:14): "After whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea." Mephibosheth says to David (2Sa 9:8): "What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?" The same figure is found in the words of Hazael to Elisha (2Ki 8:13). The meaning, which is obscure in the King James Version, is brought out well in the Revised Version: "But what is thy servant, who is but a dog, that he should do this great thing?" The characteristically oriental interrogative form of these expressions should be noted.

Other passages express by inference the low esteem in which dogs are held. Nothing worse could happen to a person than that his body should be devoured by dogs (1Ki 14:11; 16:4; 21:19,23, etc.). Job 30:1 says of the youth who deride him that he disdained to set their fathers with the dogs of his flock. In Php 3:2 and Re 22:15, dogs are coupled with evil-workers, sorcerers, etc. In Mt 7:6 we read: "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before the swine." Job 30:1 (cited above) refers to the use of dogs to guard flocks; and the comparison of inefficient watchmen with dumb dogs (Isa 56:10) implies that at least some dogs are useful. In the apocryphal Book of Tob, Tobias' dog is his companion on his travels (Tobit 5:16; 11:4; on this see Expository Times, XI, 258; HDB, IV, 989; Geiger, Civilization of E. Iranians, I, 85 ff).

There is further the reference to the greyhound (Pr 30:31 English Versions) as one of the four things which are "stately in their going." But the rendering, "greyhound," rests solely upon inference, and is contrary to the Septuagint and Vulgate, which have respectively alektor and gallus, i.e. "cock," the King James Version margin "horse." The Hebrew has zarzir mothnayim, which the King James Version margin renders "girt in the loins." the Revised Version, margin has "warhorse," Hebrew "well girt (or, well knit) in the loins." In support of the meaning, "girt," for zarzir, there is the word zer, which, with zarzir, is assigned to the obsolete root zarar and the Arabic zirr, "button," from zarr, "to button", "to compress." Further, to render zarzir by "cock" logically requires a change in the text, for mothnayim, "loins," becomes superlative and inappropriate (see Encyclopedia Biblica, under the word "Cock"). On the other hand, the Arabic zarzur is a starling (compare Arabic zarzar, "to utter cries," said of birds; carcar, "to cry out"; carcar, "cockroach," or "cricket"). Also, according to Encyclopedia Biblica (s. v. "Cock"), "the Talmudic zarzir .... means some bird (a kind of raven)." If the text stands, there appears to be no better rendering than "girt in the loins," which might fairly be taken to refer to a war horse or to a greyhound. The Persian greyhound would in that case be understood, a hairy race, which, according to the Royal Natural History, is less fleet than the English breed and is used in chasing gazelles and in hunting the wild ass, and which according to Doughty (Arabia Deseria) is kept by the Bedouin. "These dogs are said to be sometimes girdled by their owners to prevent them from over-eating and becoming fat" (L. Fletcher, British Museum (Natural History)).

Domestic dogs have probably been derived from various species of wolves and jackals. In this connection, it is noteworthy that the dogs of certain regions greatly resemble the wolves of those regions. The pariah dogs of Syria and Palestine resemble the jackals, especially in color and in the tail, differing in their greater size and in the shape of muzzle and ears. It is fair to assume that they are much the same as existed in Bible times. They are in general meek and harmless creatures, and are valuable as scavengers, but disturb the night with their barking. Each quarter of the city has its own pack of dogs, which vigorously resents any invasion of its territory. A dog which for any reason finds itself in foreign territory gets home as quickly as possible, and is lucky if it does not have to run the gauntlet of a pack of vicious foes. The pariah dog is sometimes brought up to be a sheep dog, but the best shepherd dogs are great wolfish creatures, which are usually obtained from Kurdistan.

Alfred Ely Day

1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

An old dog at it; expert or accustomed to any thing. Dog in a manger; one who would prevent another from enjoying what he himself does not want: an allusion to the well-known fable. The dogs have not dined; a common saying to any one whose shirt hangs out behind. To dog, or dodge; to follow at a distance. To blush like a blue dog, i.e. not at all. To walk the black dog on any one; a punishment inflicted in the night on a fresh prisoner, by his comrades, in case of his refusal to pay the usual footing or garnish.

Moby Thesaurus

Afghan hound, Alaskan malamute, Bedlington terrier, Border terrier, Boston bull, Cairn terrier, Chihuahua, Dalmatian, Doberman pinscher, English toy spaniel, Eskimo dog, Gordon setter, Great Dane, Great Pyrenees, Kerry blue terrier, Labrador retriever, Maltese, Newfoundland, Norwegian elkhound, Norwich terrier, Pekingese, Rhodesian ridgeback, Rottweiler, Saluki, Samoyed, Scottish deerhound, Seeing Eye dog, Siberian husky, Welsh corgi, Welsh terrier, Yorkshire terrier, affenpinscher, aggravate, animal, annoy, arch, baboon, badger, badger dog, bag, bait, balker, balky horse, bandog, bar, barbet, barricade, basset, basset hound, be at, beagle, beast, beat, bedevil, bedog, beset, billy, billy goat, bitch, blemish, block, block up, blockade, bloodhound, blot, boar, boarhound, bolt, borzoi, bother, bowwow, boxer, bristle, brown off, bubbly-jock, buck, bug, bull, bull terrier, bulldog, bullock, bullyrag, burn up, canine, chanticleer, chase, chivy, chock, choke, choke off, chow, close, close off, close tight, close up, clubfoot, coach dog, cock, cockerel, collie, come after, come behind, constrict, coonhound, course, crate, crock, crowbait, crowd, cur, dachshund, debar, deerhound, devil, digit, discompose, distemper, disturb, drake, drive, entire, entire horse, exasperate, exercise, extremity, eyesore, falcon, fancy dog, fash, feist, fetlock, flat-coated retriever, flush, follow, follow the hounds, follow up, foot, forefoot, forepaw, fowl, fox terrier, foxhound, frank, fret, fright, gander, gargoyle, garron, get, giant schnauzer, give chase, go after, go behind, go hunting, goat, gobbler, golden retriever, greyhound, griffon, gripe, guide dog, gun, gyp, hack, hag, harass, harefoot, harridan, harrier, harry, hart, haunt, hawk, he-goat, heap, heckle, hector, heel, hollo after, hoof, hot dog, hound, hunt, hunt down, husky, hyena, insect, instep, irk, jack, jacklight, jade, jam, jughead, kennel, lakeland terrier, lap dog, lock, make after, malamute, mastiff, mess, miff, molest, mongrel, monster, monstrosity, move behind, mutt, nag, needle, nettle, no beauty, nudzh, obstruct, occlude, otterhound, pack, pack of dogs, pad, papillon, pastern, patte, paw, peacock, pedal extremity, pedes, peeve, persecute, pes, pester, pick on, pied, pig, pique, plague, pluck the beard, plug, pointer, polecat, pooch, poodle, pother, prick, prosecute, provoke, prowl after, pug, puli, pup, puppy, pursue, quest, quest after, raise the hunt, ram, rat terrier, reptile, retriever, ride, ride to hounds, rile, roarer, rogue, roil, rooster, rosinante, ruffle, run, run after, scalawag, scarecrow, scum, search, seek, seek out, serpent, setter, shadow, sheep dog, shikar, shithead, shoot, show dog, shut off, shut out, shut tight, sight, skunk, sled dog, sleuth, sleuthhound, slut, snake, sole, spaniel, splayfoot, sport, squeeze, squeeze shut, stag, staghound, stalk, stallion, start, steer, stiff, stifle, still-hunt, stinkard, stop up, stot, strangle, strangulate, string along, stud, studhorse, suffocate, swine, tag, tag after, tag along, tail, tailgate, take out after, tease, teratism, terrier, toad, toe, tom, tom turkey, tomcat, tootsy, top cow, top horse, torment, toy dog, track, trail, trail after, tread close upon, trotter, try the patience, tup, turd, turkey gobbler, turkey-cock, turnspit, tweak the nose, tyke, ugly duckling, ungula, varmint, vermin, vex, viper, watchdog, wether, whelp, whippet, whistler, wiener, wienerwurst, wienie, wire-haired terrier, witch, wolfhound, working dog, worm, worry, wreck