| a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare. |
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
dog (dɒɡ) ![]() | |
| —n | |
| 1. | a. a domesticated canine mammal, Canis familiaris, occurring in many breeds that show a great variety in size and form |
| b. (as modifier): dog biscuit | |
| 2. | a. any other carnivore of the family Canidae, such as the dingo and coyote |
| b. (as modifier): the dog family Related: canine | |
| 3. | a. the male of animals of the dog family |
| b. (as modifier): a dog fox | |
| 4. | (modifier) |
| a. spurious, inferior, or useless: dog Latin | |
| b. (in combination): dogberry | |
| 5. | a mechanical device for gripping or holding, esp one of the axial slots by which gear wheels or shafts are engaged to transmit torque |
| 6. | informal a fellow; chap: you lucky dog |
| 7. | informal a man or boy regarded as unpleasant, contemptible, or wretched |
| 8. | informal (US) a male friend: used as a term of address |
| 9. | slang an unattractive or boring girl or woman |
| 10. | informal (US), (Canadian) something unsatisfactory or inferior |
| 11. | short for firedog |
| 12. | fogdog seadog See sundog any of various atmospheric phenomena |
| 13. | a dog's chance no chance at all |
| 14. | informal a dog's dinner, a dog's breakfast something that is messy or bungled |
| 15. | a dog's life a wretched existence |
| 16. | dog eat dog ruthless competition or self-interest |
| 17. | informal like a dog's dinner dressed smartly or ostentatiously |
| 18. | informal (US), (Canadian) put on the dog to behave or dress in an ostentatious or showy manner |
| —vb , dogs, dogging, dogged | |
| 19. | to pursue or follow after like a dog |
| 20. | to trouble; plague: to be dogged by ill health |
| 21. | to chase with a dog or dogs |
| 22. | to grip, hold, or secure by a mechanical device |
| —adv | |
| 23. | (
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| Related: canine | |
| [Old English docga, of obscure origin] | |
| 'doglike | |
| —adj | |
"Notwithstanding, as a dog hath a day, so may I perchance have time to declare it in deeds." [Queen Elizabeth, 1550]Phrase put on the dog "get dressed up" (1934) may refer back to the stiff stand-up shirt collars that in the 1890s were the height of male fashion (and were known as dog-collars at least from 1883), with reference to collars worn by dogs. The common Sp. word for "dog," perro, also is a mystery word of unknown origin, perhaps from Iberian.
"It is ill wakyng of a sleapyng dogge." [Heywood, 1562]
dog definition
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frequently mentioned both in the Old and New Testaments. Dogs were used by the Hebrews as a watch for their houses (Isa. 56:10), and for guarding their flocks (Job 30:1). There were also then as now troops of semi-wild dogs that wandered about devouring dead bodies and the offal of the streets (1 Kings 14:11; 16:4; 21:19, 23; 22:38; Ps. 59:6, 14). As the dog was an unclean animal, the terms "dog," "dog's head," "dead dog," were used as terms of reproach or of humiliation (1 Sam. 24:14; 2 Sam. 3:8; 9:8; 16:9). Paul calls false apostles "dogs" (Phil. 3:2). Those who are shut out of the kingdom of heaven are also so designated (Rev. 22:15). Persecutors are called "dogs" (Ps. 22:16). Hazael's words, "Thy servant which is but a dog" (2 Kings 8:13), are spoken in mock humility=impossible that one so contemptible as he should attain to such power.
dog it
Do less than is required; loaf or shirk. For example, I'm afraid our donors are dogging it this year. This expression originated in sports and soon was transferred to other endeavors. [Slang; c. 1900]
Move slowly, as in We just dogged it along from California to Oregon.
Run away, as in Let's dog it out of here right now. This usage originated in American underworld slang in the 1920s, where it meant "to back down in cowardly fashion," and acquired its present sense about 1930.
Same as put on the dog.