Origins of the Word "Dog"
Synonyms include canine, hound, pooch, tyke, and tike. In the 1600s, the French called dogs "dogue" or "dogge" while the Germans used "Dogge".
Slang and Terms for Dogs
What does "dog" mean in slang? It can be a term of abuse for a person. In Australia, "dog" means someone who betrays colleagues or changes allegiance. What is the #1 dog name? What is a cute word for a dog? Whenever an animal is cute and fun, you can probably call it a doggo! Pupper and woofer are variants of doggo.
Describing Dogs
What words describe a dog? The adjectives used for dogs are jolly, joyful, well-bred, faithful, timid, healthy, etc.
More Information on Dogs
What is a catchphrase for dogs? “Happiness is a warm puppy.” “Money can buy you a fine dog, but only love can make him wag his tail.” “Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” “A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.”
In the Bible, dogs embodied gluttony. God sent them to tear and devour. One dog is mentioned by name in the Bible – the greyhound.
Sunka is the Lakota word for dog. It was altered to describe horses – sunka wakan – a sacred dog. Many tribes gave dogs places of honor for their protective powers. The Cheyenne had dog-soldiers to guard the village.
Rez dogs live on reservations. They are often strays and ferals. In the Dakota language, dog is shunka.
Dog once meant mastiff and bulldog. Now it means any type of dog. We use specific words like hound for hunting types. Using “hair of the dog” for hangovers may be as old as drinking itself. The phrase “the dog ate my homework” is newer.