Ever wonder why we call our furry friends "dogs"? The term, one of the most common words in our language, is steeped in mystery and a history that’s as rich as a pup’s love for belly rubs!
Linguist Colin Gorrie explained to NPR that the word "dog" only became a standard term in the last 500 years. Before that, canines were mostly referred to as "hounds," a name that comes from the Old English word "hund." If you dive deep into history, you'll find that in medieval times, calling someone a "dog" was actually a pretty big insult!
But how did we go from slinging insults to cuddling our "fur babies?" Gorrie stated that the love humans have for dogs flipped the negative vibe of the word over time. By the 1500s, "dog" had taken the crown as the go-to term for our four-legged pals.
Yet the origin of the word remains a real brain teaser. Some theories suggest that it may come from the Old English word "dox," possibly meaning color, while others think it’s related to the word for being strong or useful. Whatever the case, the connection between dogs and humans has influenced language in crazy ways!
Think of all the phrases we have like "dog days of summer" and "raining cats and dogs." These sayings show how much we observe and adore our canine companions. They even inspired terms like "dog tag," which is a pretty cool tie to how we keep our pets safe.
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