Etymology

house dog

Today it means: A dog used to protect a house, a watchdog; (later also) a dog kept as a pet. Full definition →

First used 16th c.
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The story

From house + dog.

First known use, by meaning

  • from 16th c. A dog used to protect a house, a watchdog; (later also) a dog kept as a pet.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.