subs. (colloquial).—1. A man; sometimes used contemptuously (Cf., CAT = a woman), but more frequently in half-serious chiding; e.g., a sad DOG, gay DOG, old DOG, etc. For synonyms, see COVE. Sometimes adjectively = male; see quot., 1856. AN OLD DOG AT IT = expert, or accustomed to.
1596. NASHE, Have with You to Saffron-Walden, Epis. Ded. par. 5. O, he hath been olde DOGGE at that drunken, staggering kinde of verse.
1697. VANBRUGH, Æsop, Part II., Sc. iii. Beau. Why, I’m a strong young DOG, you old put, you.
1703. CENTLIVRE, The Stolen Heiress, I., wks. (1872), i., 336. She is in love, forsooth, with a young beggarly DOG, not worth a groat.
1736. FIELDING, Don Quixote, II., iv. A comical DOG, I fancy; go, give my service to him.
1796. J. G. HOLMAN, Abroad and at Home, I., 3.
| And my praise to withhold none so currish, | |
| With a girl so divine, | |
| Such dinners! such wine! | |
| What a damn’d clever DOG was Jack Flourish! |
1810. CRABBE, The Borough, Letter 6, Law.
| For he’d a way that many judg’d polite, | |
| A cunning DOG—he’d fawn before he’d bite. |
1836. DICKENS, Pickwick Papers, p. 369. (ed. 1857). Curse me, they’re friends of mine from this minute and friends of Mivins, too. Infernal pleasant, gentlemenly, DOG Mivins, isn’t he? said Smangle, with great feeling.
1856. WHYTE-MELVILLE, Kate Coventry, ch. vii. Then comes Ascot, for which meeting they leave the metropolis, and enjoy some quiet retreat in the neighbourhood of Windsor, taking with them many potables, and what they call a DOG cook.
2. (thieves’).—A burglar’s iron. For synonyms, see JEMMY.
1888. American Humorist, 31 March. The safe was rifled, and every appearance of robbery was manifest. In this case the murderer was discovered by means of a DOG, which was described in the newspapers as having certain peculiar scratches on it.
Verb (venery).—To copulate on all fours.
TO GO, or THROW TO THE DOGS.—See GO and DEMNITION BOW-WOWS.
HAIR OF THE DOG THAT BIT YOU.—See HAIR.
TO BLUSH LIKE A BLUE DOG.—See BLUSH.
