bulldog
Americannoun
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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.
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Informal. a stubbornly persistent person.
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a short-barreled revolver of large caliber.
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Metallurgy. slag from a puddling furnace.
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an assistant to the proctor at Oxford and Cambridge universities.
adjective
verb (used with object)
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to attack in the manner of a bulldog.
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Western U.S. to throw (a calf, steer, etc.) to the ground by seizing the horns and twisting the head.
noun
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a sturdy thickset breed of dog with an undershot jaw, short nose, broad head, and a muscular body
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(at Oxford University) an official who accompanies the proctors on ceremonial occasions
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commerce a fixed-interest bond issued in Britain by a foreign borrower
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of bulldog
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
At the time, Ibrahimovic had an English bulldog who could handle going downhill, but struggled going the other way.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026
They told the landlord they had one French bulldog, despite owning a micro bully and two XL bullies, a breed banned in 2024.
From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026
Play, a four-year-old French bulldog, waddled down the street in Noho.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 28, 2025
Her own kids often ran across to the neighbors for snacks or to visit their favorite bulldog.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 14, 2025
“Step away from the buffet, Grandpa,” commanded the bulldog.
From "Dog Squad" by Chris Grabenstein
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
