dog

dog [dôg, däg]

n.

pl. dogs or dog [ME, generalized in sense < late, rare OE docga, dogga (usual hund: see HOUND¹) < ?]

1.

a) any of a large and varied group of domesticated canines (Canis familiaris) often kept as a house pet or used for hunting, guarding people or property, etc.

b) any of various wild canines

2. the male of a canine

3. a mean, contemptible fellow

4. a prairie dog, dogfish, or other animal thought to resemble a dog

5. [< its orig. shape: cf. Fr chenet] an andiron; firedog

6. Informal a boy or man [lucky dog ]

☆ 7. [pl.] Slang feet

8. HOT DOG (sense 1)

9. Slang

a) an unattractive or unpopular person

☆ b) an unsatisfactory thing or unsuccessful venture

10. Mech. any of several devices for holding or grappling

11. Meteorol.

a) a parhelion; sundog

b) a fogdog

adj.

designating a family (Canidae) of meat-eating animals that includes dogs, foxes, wolves, coyotes, and jackals

vt.

dogged, dogging

1. to follow, hunt, or track down doggedly

☆ 2. to hold or secure with a mechanical dog

adv.

very; completely: used in combination [dog-tired]

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a dog's age

Informal a long time

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a dog's life

a wretched existence

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dog in the manger

a person who keeps others from using something which that person is not using

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dog it

Slang to fail to exert the maximum or expected effort

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every dog has his day

something good or lucky happens to everyone at one time or another

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go to the dogs

Informal to deteriorate; degenerate

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let sleeping dogs lie

to let well enough alone; not disturb things as they are for fear of something worse

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☆ put on the dog

Slang to make a show of being very elegant, wealthy, etc.

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teach an old dog new tricks

to induce a person of settled habits to adopt new methods or ideas

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the Greater Dog

the constellation Canis Major: also called the Big Dog

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the Lesser Dog

the constellation Canis Minor: also called the Little Dog