dingo

[ ding-goh ]

noun

, plural din·goes.

1. a wolflike, wild dog, Canis familiaris dingo, of Australia, having a reddish- or yellowish-brown coat.
2. Australian. a cowardly or treacherous person.

dingo

/ ˈdɪŋɡəʊ /

noun

1. a wild dog, Canis dingo, of Australia, having a yellowish-brown coat and resembling a wolf
2. slang.
   a cheat or coward

verb

1. 1. to act in a cowardly manner
   2. to drop out of something
2. foll by on to let (someone) down

Word History and Origins

Origin of dingo¹

First recorded in 1789, dingo is from the Dharuk word din-gu tame dingo

Word History and Origins

Origin of dingo¹

C18: native Australian name

Example Sentences

Scientists had noticed an increase in the size of some dingoes, but that there hasn’t been much understanding of what was causing it, says Michael Letnic, an ecologist at the University of New South Wales in Sydney.

From Science News

If dingoes are growing in size in response to 1080 exposure, there could be ecological implications down the line.

From Science News

Dingo attacks are generally the result of how a human acts toward them.

From The Daily Beast

Georgina stepped in between the dingo and her baby sister just before their mother was able to scare the dingo away.

From The Daily Beast

Although it is rare, dingo attacks on humans have been known to occur.

From The Daily Beast

Dingo packs are highly territorial and an intruding dingo will likely be killed.

From The Daily Beast

At the time, the dingo was semi-domesticated and is believed to be the common ancestor of all breeds today.

From The Daily Beast

You only shot once at the dingo—there are two chambers empty in this revolver.

From Project Gutenberg

We felt proud of the occasion and grateful to General Dingo.

From Project Gutenberg

Now a dingo or wild dog, now a toombat or opossum, made its appearance, and created matter of interest and inquiry.

From Project Gutenberg

Leaving science to unravel this problem, it may be said of the dingo that he is a good-looking but an ill-behaved animal.

From Project Gutenberg

No surface water is to be obtained in the mallee district; its silence is only disturbed by the melancholy wail of the dingo.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• mutt
• pooch
• pup