from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Dog \Dog\ (d[add]g or d[o^]g), n. [AS. docga; akin to D. dog
mastiff, Dan. dogge, Sw. dogg.]
1. (Zool.) A quadruped of the genus {Canis}, esp. the
domestic dog ({Canis 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 {akita}, {beagle}, {bloodhound},
{bulldog}, {coachdog}, {collie}, {Danish dog},
{foxhound}, {greyhound}, {mastiff}, {pointer},
{poodle}, {St. Bernard}, {setter}, {spaniel}, {spitz},
{terrier}, {German shepherd}, {pit bull}, {Chihuahua},
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.)
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2. A mean, worthless fellow; a wretch.
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What is thy servant, which is but a dog, that he
should do this great thing? -- 2 Kings
viii. 13 (Rev.
Ver. )
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3. A fellow; -- used humorously or contemptuously; as, a sly
dog; a lazy dog. [Colloq.]
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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).
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5. An iron for holding wood in a fireplace; a firedog; an
andiron.
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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.
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7. an ugly or crude person, especially an ugly woman. [slang]
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8. a {hot dog}. [slang]
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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.
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{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} (Zool.), 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} (Zool.), 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} (Zool.), 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} (Zool.), a salmon of northwest America and
northern Asia; -- the {gorbuscha}; -- called also {holia},
and {hone}.
{Dog shark}. (Zool.) 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} (Zool.), any species of univalve shells of the
family {Nassid[ae]}, esp. the {Nassa reticulata} of
England.
{To give to the dogs}, or {To 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.
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