In the English language, there are few words simpler than “dog.” Succinct and monosyllabic, it’s a perfectly commonplace word for good boys, pooches, mutts, pups, and man’s best friend. Etymologically, however, “dog” is a mystery. About seven centuries ago, dogs were commonly known as hounds, a word that came from the Old English hund. But by around 1500 CE, “hound” had been largely replaced by the word “dog” — a surprising replacement that seemingly appeared out of the blue, with few earlier forms to even fully explain the word’s existence.
One theory among linguists is that “dog” comes from the Old English word dox, which described a type of color or shade that could have been dark, golden, or yellow, all of which could apply to dogs. Another possible connection comes from the Old English word dugan, meaning “to be good,” “of use,” or “strong” — all of which, again, can be applied to our faithful four-legged friends. Then there’s the Old English docga, a rarely used word that may have been applied to a specific, strong breed of dog, possibly the mastiff.
Adding to the lexicographical confusion is the fact that docga was used more often in early Middle English as a deprecatory or abusive term directed at people, with no dogs involved. This, however, could be one explanation for the rise of the word “dog.” According to linguist Colin Gorrie, it’s possible that “dog” — in its canine sense — began as a term for a particular, despised kind of dog. But then with time, the word “dog” lost its negative implication, was repurposed as a term of affection, and somehow stuck. By the 16th century, it had become commonplace and largely supplanted “hound,” which today is typically used to refer to specific breeds of hunting dogs. Versions of “dog” appeared in many European languages around this same time: dogue in French, dogge in Danish, and Dogge in German.
All in all, there’s a lot of speculation and theorizing involved in the origin story of Fido, with not much hard evidence in the historical record, ensuring that the etymology of the word “dog” remains one of the great mysteries of English. And perhaps that should come as no surprise. After all, the connection between humans and dogs can be traced back some 11,000 years, to the end of the last ice age — a long way back for even the simplest of words.
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