1. a. A dog bred for or trained to the water; esp. one trained to retrieve waterfowl. Formerly as a specific name, the barbet or poodle imported from the continent. b. Any kind of dog that swims well, and is habituated to or not shy of the water.
13[?]. K. Alis., 5771. Bristled hy weren as hogges, And slynken as water-dogges.
1505. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., II. 475. For ane corsbow and ane water-dog to the King, vj li.
1600. Darrell, Detect. Harsnet’s Discov., 130. They … wold neuer haue indured him to haue chopt at his face, as a water-dogge at a duck.
1621. G. Markham, Hunger’s Prevent., xi. 67. Not any amongst vs is so simple that he cannot say when hee seeth him, This is a Water-Dogge, or a Dogge bred for the Water.
1677. N. Cox, Gentl. Recreat., III. (ed. 2), 49. How to train a Water-dog.
1762–71. H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint. (1786), IV. 145. She has done a picture of fowls, a water-dog and a heron.
1824. Bewick, Quadrupeds (ed. 8), 360. The Large Rough Water Dog … Le Grand Barbet, Buff.
1837. T. Bell, Brit. Quadrupeds, 226. The water-Dog must not be confounded with the Water-Spaniel, from which indeed it differs considerably in size and in proportions.
1867. ‘Stonehenge,’ Dogs of Brit. Isl., 45. Though excellent water dogs,… we have had to complain of their impetuous rush into pond or river.
1876. Field, 13 May, 537/2. It was proposed to have trials of performing dogs, sheepdogs and water dogs.
2. A man thoroughly at home either on or in the water. a. A sailor. b. A good swimmer.
1674. Wycherley, Plain Dealer, I. i. 2 Sail. … when I welcom’d him ashore, he gave me a box on the ear, and call’d me fawning Water-dog?
1840. R. H. Dana, Two Yrs. bef. Mast, xiii. (1854), 57. They [sc. Sandwich Islanders] are complete water-dogs, and therefore very good in boating.
1878. Joaquin Miller, Songs of Italy, 29. Brave old water-dogs wed to the sea.
1867. S. W. Baker, Nile Trib., v. 95. These two Arab water-dogs were up to their necks in the river, screaming out directions to each other.
1878. Trelawny, Rec. Shelley, etc., I. 154. I was the only water-dog of our band; neither Percy nor Captain Roberts nor the mate could swim.
3. A name for various animals.
† a. The otter. Obs. (? exc. dial.)
1576. A. Fleming, trans. Caius’ Dogs, II. 19. Both Ælianus and Ælius, call the Beauer, Κὖνα [sic] ποτάμιον, a water dogge, or a dogge fishe.
1655. Walton, Angler, ii. (1661), 49. There is brave hunting this Water-dog in Cornwall.
c. 1856. Denham, Tracts (1892), I. 87. In Ireland the country people call the otter the Devil’s water dog.
b. U.S. One of the various species of salamanders, esp. the hellbender or the mud-puppy.
1859. Bartlett, Dict. Amer. (ed. 2).
1882. Amer. Naturalist, Feb., 140. The Menopoma, here [Pa.] called ‘alligator’ and ‘water-dog.’
c. U.S. ? A variety of DOGFISH.
1892. A. E. Lee, Hist. Columbus (Ohio), I. 299. Suckers, catfish, gars and waterdogs were also taken [in the Scioto River].
d. The water-rat or water-vole, Arvicola amphibius.
1876. Smiles, Sc. Nat., i. The burn itself had plenty of water-dogs, or water-rats, along its banks.
4. A small dark floating cloud supposed to indicate rain. (Cf. DOG sb. 10 c.)
a. 1825. Forby, Voc. E. Anglia.
1910. Spectator, 3 Sept., 342/1. Other English names for various perceptible forms of vapour in the sky are ‘water dogs,’ ‘sun-galls’ [etc.].
† 5. Angling. A device for disentangling a hook.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 103/2. A Water-Dog, is a round peece of Lead like a Ring: It is to unloose the Hookes if they be fastned at the bottom.
