Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “bulldog” come from?

Bulldog derives from English bull and dog, with bull tracing to Middle English bulle, from Latin bulla, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European bʰel-.

bulldog (English): A breed of dog developed in England by the...

Definitions

  1. A breed of dog developed in England by the...

Ancestry of “bulldog”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishdogA mammal, "Canis familiaris" or "Canis lupus...
2EnglishdogshitDog excrement; Something disgusting, abominable,...
3EnglishshitSolid excretory product evacuated from the...
4Middle Dutchschite—
5Old Dutchskīta—
6Old Saxonskiti—
7Proto-Germanicskītaz—
8Proto-Indo-Europeansḱeyd-to shade; to cut off; to part with, separate, cut...
9Proto-Indo-Europeansḱēy-to shine; to shimmer; shadow; luster, gloss,...
10Proto-Germanicskaidąseparation, distinction
11Proto-Indo-EuropeanskÁit-to cut, part, spearate, divide; to cut, part,...

Words derived from “bulldog”

  • bulldogger
  • bulldoggy
  • bulldog
  • бульдог
  • bouledogue
  • buldog
  • buldog
  • buldog
  • buldogok
  • buldogas
  • buldog
Every word from Proto-Indo-European skÁit- →