dog whelk

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]
      [PJC]

   8. a {hot dog}. [slang]
      [PJC]

   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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