bulldog

—bulldoggedness, n. —bulldogger, n.

/bool"dawg', -dog'/, n., adj., v., bulldogged, bulldogging.

n.

1. one of an English breed of medium-sized, short-haired, muscular dogs with prominent, undershot jaws, usually having a white and tan or brindled coat, raised originally for bullbaiting.

2. Informal. a stubbornly persistent person.

3. a short-barreled revolver of large caliber.

4. Metall. slag from a puddling furnace.

5. an assistant to the proctor at Oxford and Cambridge universities.

adj.

6. like or characteristic of a bulldog or of a bulldog's jaws: bulldog obstinacy.

v.t.

7. to attack in the manner of a bulldog.

8. Western U.S. to throw (a calf, steer, etc.) to the ground by seizing the horns and twisting the head.

[1490-1500; BULL¹ + DOG]

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or English bulldog

Centuries-old breed of dog developed in Britain to fight bulls.

Powerful and courageous, often vicious, and largely unaware of pain, the bulldog nearly disappeared when dogfighting was outlawed in 1835. Fanciers of the breed saved it and bred out its ferocity. It is now considered gentle and reliable. It has a large head, folded ears, a short muzzle, a protruding lower jaw, and loose skin that forms wrinkles on the head and face. Its short, fine coat is tan, white, reddish brown, brindle, or piebald. It stands 13–15 in. (34–38 cm) high and weighs 40–50 lbs (18–23 kg).

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▪ breed of dog

also called  English bulldog  

 breed of dog developed centuries ago in Great Britain for use in fighting bulls (bullbaiting (bearbaiting)). Characteristically powerful and courageous, often vicious, and to a great extent unaware of pain, the bulldog nearly disappeared when dogfighting was outlawed in 1835. Fanciers of the breed, however, saved it and bred out its ferocity. Nicknamed the “sourmug,” the bulldog is a stocky dog that moves with a rolling gait. It has a large head, folded ears, a short muzzle, a protruding lower jaw, and loose skin that forms wrinkles on the head and face. Its short, fine coat is tan, white, reddish brown, brindle, or piebald. The bulldog stands 13 to 15 inches (33 to 38 cm) and weighs 40 to 50 pounds (18 to 23 kg). Typically gentle and reliable, it is placed in the Non-Sporting Dog group of the American Kennel Club. See also French bulldog.

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