Where does “work dog” come from?

work dog (English) comes from English dog, from English dogshit, from English shit, from Middle Dutch schite, from Old Dutch skīta, from Old Saxon skiti, from Proto-Germanic skītaz, from Proto-Indo-European sḱeyd- — to cut, part, spearate, divide; to cut, part,...

work dog (English): A working dog; a dog breed created to perform...

Definitions

  1. A working dog; a dog breed created to perform...

Ancestry of “work dog”, step by step

work dog traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English dog

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,...

via English work

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishwork"Employment."; "Effort."; Sustained effort to...
2Middle Englishwerkwork
3Old Englishweorcwork, in various senses, including
4Proto-West Germanicwerkwork
5Proto-Germanicwerkąwork
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwérǵomwork
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwerǵ-to make
Every word from Proto-Indo-European skÁit-