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sea dog

American  
[see dawg, dog] / ˈsi ˌdɔg, ˌdɒg /
Sometimes seadog

noun

  1. Informal. a sailor, especially an old or experienced one.

  2. harbor seal.

  3. a dogfish.

  4. Informal. a pirate or privateer.

sea dog British  

noun

  1. an experienced or old sailor

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of sea dog

First recorded in 1590–1600

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.

Sea dog: Lord West's knowledge of dangerous land-based canines was questioned "Some felt that too much emphasis was placed on the parliamentary role."

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2011

It was agreed that South Sea dog was but little inferior to English lamb.

From Captain Cook His Life, Voyages, and Discoveries by Kingston, William Henry Giles

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.