bulldog

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

Also spelled bull-dog

US /ˈbʊlˌdɔɡ/ UK /ˈbʊlˌdɒɡ/ See IPA manual

noun verb

Meanings

1

noun
a stocky short-faced dog breed; to attack or hold stubbornly

The bulldog dozed in the shade of the porch.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a stocky short-faced dog... mastiff

Word family

Derived forms bulldoggedbulldoggingbulldogger

Related forms bull dog

Etymology

A compound of bull + dog, so named because the breed was originally used in bull-baiting. Bull is from Middle English bole, of Germanic origin, and dog from Old English docga.

bole Middle English docga Old English

View etymology graph ->

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Describing Qualities

# bulldog

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** ˈbʊlˌdɔɡ
**IPA (UK):** ˈbʊlˌdɒɡ

## Meanings
1. a stocky short-faced dog breed; to attack or hold stubbornly

## Examples
- The bulldog dozed in the shade of the porch.

## Synonyms
- mastiff

## Derived Forms
- bulldogged
- bulldogging
- bulldogger

## Related Forms
- bull
- dog

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: bole
- Root: docga

## Etymology
A compound of bull + dog, so named because the breed was originally used in bull-baiting. Bull is from Middle English bole, of Germanic origin, and dog from Old English docga.

## AI Etymology
Bulldog is a noun and verb meaning "a stocky short-faced dog breed; to attack or hold stubbornly". Historically, it is a compound of bull + dog, so named because the breed was originally used in bull-baiting. Bull is from Middle English bole, of Germanic origin, and dog from Old English docga. The visible construction is part of the etymology: bulldog is not just an unanalyzed simple word. The historical chain links Middle English bole with Old English docga. Close English family members include bulldogged, bulldogging, bulldogger, bull, and dog.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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bulldog

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