Animal Etymology: Dog Words

Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen.

Saturdays are perfect days for canine surprises. Surprise—we’re talking about words related to dogs today!

Not only does English include a myriad of words for dogs and all those different breeds, but the language has a surprising number of words related to dogs. In fact, CAN- is a root meaning dog:

canicular (adj) - pertaining to the dog days, which are hot, muggy days during the height of summer
—canicular can also mean pertaining to Sirius, the Dog Star, which is highest in the sky from around July 3 to Aug. 11

canine (adj) - of, like, or pertaining to a dog or dogs
BREAKDOWN: CAN- (dog) + -INE (of or like)
—a canine is a dog or more broadly any member of the family Canidae 
—a canine is also a cuspid, the pointed tooth between the incisors and the premolars

kennel (noun) - a house or shelter for a dog; a facility that boards or rears dogs
—to kennel means to house or board a dog

Rather than explore how the root CAN- is also the source of words like cynical, cynosure, or canary, we should look at all those other words related to dogs:

• bloodhound (noun) - anyone who pursues or tracks a quarry keenly or relentlessly

• cur (noun) - a worthless, despicable, or cowardly person

• dogged (adj) - showing tremendous tenacity or perseverance; relentless or stubborn

• doggerel (noun) - irregular, silly, or plain bad poetry, sometimes written intentionally for comic effect; 

• hound (verb) -to pursue or harass relentlessly (also dog or bird-dog)

• lapdog (noun) - someone highly subservient or submissive to another (also poodle)

• mongrel (noun) - anyone of mixed or unknown ancestry; a hybrid or crossbreed  (also mutt)

“Beware of the man who does not talk and the dog that does not bark.”