dog

Where does the word "dog" come from? It comes from Old English docga, passing through Middle English before entering English (1500s).

Dog’s story begins in Old English: docga meant “a (powerful) dog.” Appears only once in surviving Old English, while the usual word was 'hund', hound; its origin is a mystery. By 1300s, the word had taken hold in Middle English as dogge. Spread until it became the general word, leaving 'hound' for hunting dogs. It reached English by 1500s as dog. English exported it: French 'dogue' and German 'Dogge' mean a mastiff. Today, dog means a domesticated carnivorous mammal kept as a pet or working animal.

1. Stage 1 · Old English · 1000s docga "a (powerful) dog", appears only once in surviving Old English, while the usual word was 'hund', hound; its origin is a mystery.
2. Stage 2 · Middle English · 1300s dogge "dog", spread until it became the general word, leaving 'hound' for hunting dogs.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s dog "dog", English exported it: French 'dogue' and German 'Dogge' mean a mastiff.