dɔɡ 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. ødie 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. øødoglike adj. [OE docga, of unkn. orig.]