English Lexicon

Wolfdog

/ˈwʊlf.dɔɡ/
nounCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #15000 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A hybrid animal resulting from the crossbreeding of a domestic dog and a wolf.

    "The wolfdog exhibited both the loyalty of a dog and the wild instincts of a wolf."
  2. 2

    A breed or type of dog that has a significant amount of wolf ancestry.

    "Many wolfdogs require specialized training due to their unique behavioral traits."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The term 'wolfdog' is a compound word formed from 'wolf' and 'dog'. 'Wolf' originates from Old English 'wulf', which has Germanic roots, while 'dog' comes from Old English 'docga', a term of uncertain origin. The combination reflects the hybrid nature of these animals, which has been recognized since the 20th century as a result of crossbreeding between domestic dogs and wolves.

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