Meanings
laika1
plural laikas · alternative Laika
- A type of hunting dog from Russia.
Q—The Russians picked a laika to occupy the space capsule. Do you think a dachshund would have been a wiser choice?
1957, The New Yorker, volume 33, page 541 more example
Indeed, they have been hybridising for a very long time, as is evidenced by the laika, a wolf-like dog that even today accompanies various Siberian peoples.
2018, Tim Flannery, Europe: A Natural History, page 287
Laika2
Laika3
- A female dog who was sent into space by the Soviet Union on November 3, 1957, aboard Sputnik 2. She died in space.
Origin
laika · noun
- Russianла́йка“laika”
- Englishlaika
From Russian ла́йка (lájka, “laika”, literally “barker”).
More words from Russian
Full word history & related roots →Laika · noun
Transliteration of Russian ла́йка (lájka, literally “barker”).
Full word history & related roots →Laika · proper noun
Transliteration of Russian Лáйка (Lájka), from ла́йка (lájka, literally “barker”). Renamed by Soviet personnel; according to some accounts, owing to her loud barking.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Bulgarian лайка, Лайка
- лайка (lajka)hunting dog from Russia
- Лайка (Lajka)dog sent in space
Finnish laika
- laikahunting dog from Russia
French laïka
- laïkahunting dog from Russia
Hungarian lajka
- lajkahunting dog from Russia
Russian ла́йка
- ла́йка (lájka)hunting dog from Russia
Spanish laika
- laikahunting dog from Russia
Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
laika. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/laika
“laika.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/laika. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “laika,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/laika.
Source: laika on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.