mastiff

mastiff
Dog Dog (d[o^]g), n. [AS. docga; akin to D. dog mastiff, Dan. dogge, Sw. dogg.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) 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 dog}, {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.) [1913 Webster +PJC]

2. A mean, worthless fellow; a wretch. [1913 Webster]

What is thy servant, which is but a dog, that he should do this great thing? -- 2 Kings viii. 13 (Rev. Ver. ) [1913 Webster]

3. A fellow; -- used humorously or contemptuously; as, a sly dog; a lazy dog. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]

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). [1913 Webster]

5. An iron for holding wood in a fireplace; a firedog; an andiron. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

{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} (Zo["o]l.), 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} (Zo["o]l.), 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} (Zo["o]l.), 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} (Zo["o]l.), a salmon of northwest America and northern Asia; -- the {gorbuscha}; -- called also {holia}, and {hone}.

{Dog shark}. (Zo["o]l.) 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} (Zo["o]l.), 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. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Mastiff — Mastiff …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Mastiff — bezeichnet einen (historischen) Hundetyp, siehe Molosser (Hund) gepanzerte Patrouillefahrzeuge Verschiedene molossoide Hunderassen: Mastiff (Ursprung Großbritannien). Alangu Mastiff Alentejo Mastiff Bakharwal Mastiff Brasilianischer Mastiff… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • mastiff — [ mastif ] n. m. • mestif 1611; mot angl., de l a. fr. mastin → mâtin ♦ Chien de garde d une race anglaise, voisin des dogues. Des mastiffs. ● mastiff nom masculin (anglais mastiff) Excellent chien de garde de grande taille appelé aussi dogue… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Mastiff — Mas tiff, n.; pl. {Mastiffs}. [{Mastives} is irregular and unusual.] [Prob. fr. Prov. E. masty, adj., large, n., a great dog, prob. fr. mast fruit, and hence, lit., fattened with mast. There is perh. confusion with OF. mestif mongrel; cf. also F …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • mastiff — [mas′tif] n. [ME mastif < OFr mastin < VL * mansuetinus < L mansuetus, tame; ME form infl. by OFr mestif, a mongrel < L mixtus, mixed: see MIX] any of a breed of large, powerful dog with hanging lips and drooping ears and having a… …   English World dictionary

  • Mastiff — Mastiff, eine englische Dogge, s. Hund, S. 647 …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Mastiff — Mastiff, engl. Dogge von schwerem, plumpem Bau …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • mastiff — large, powerful breed of dog, early 14c., from O.Fr. mastin (Mod.Fr. mátin) or Prov. mastis, both from V.L. *mansuetinus domesticated, tame, from L. mansuetus tame, gentle (see MANSUETUDE (Cf. mansuetude)). Probably originally meaning a dog that… …   Etymology dictionary

  • mastiff — ► NOUN ▪ a dog of a large, strong breed with drooping ears and pendulous lips. ORIGIN Old French mastin, from Latin mansuetus tame …   English terms dictionary

  • Mastiff — A mastiff is a type of large dog often used as guard dogs. Mastiff breeds include: English Mastiff, or mastiff, the largest breed of dog in the world, bred as a Roman war dog. Alpine Mastiff, an extinct breed originating in Switzerland American… …   Wikipedia

  • mastiff — /mas tif, mah stif/, n. one of a breed of large, powerful, short haired dogs having an apricot, fawn, or brindled coat. [1300 50; ME mastif, perh. extracted from AF masti(n)s (taken as *mastifs), pl. of OF mastin < VL (canis) *ma(n)suetinus,… …   Universalium

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