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definitions

dug

1
[duhg]
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verb

a simple past tense and past participle of dig1 and dig2.

dug

2
[duhg]

noun

the mamma or the nipple of a female mammal.

Origin of dug

2
1520–30; origin obscure; perhaps < a Germanic base akin to Danish dægge, Norwegian degge, Swedish dägga to suckle

dig

1
[dig]

verb (used without object), dug or (Archaic) digged, dig·ging.

to break up, turn over, or remove earth, sand, etc., as with a shovel, spade, bulldozer, or claw; make an excavation.
to make one's way or work by or as by removing or turning over material: to dig through the files.

verb (used with object), dug or (Archaic) digged, dig·ging.

to break up, turn over, or loosen (earth, sand, etc.), as with a shovel, spade, or bulldozer (often followed by up).
to form or excavate (a hole, tunnel, etc.) by removing material.
to unearth, obtain, or remove by digging (often followed by up or out).
to find or discover by effort or search.
to poke, thrust, or force (usually followed by in or into): He dug his heel into the ground.

noun

thrust; poke: He gave me a dig in the ribs with his elbow.
a cutting, sarcastic remark.
an archaeological site undergoing excavation.
digs, Informal. living quarters; lodgings.

Verb Phrases

dig in,
  1. to dig trenches, as in order to defend a position in battle.
  2. to maintain one's opinion or position.
  3. to start eating.
dig into, Informal. to attack, work, or apply oneself voraciously, vigorously, or energetically: to dig into one's work; to dig into a meal.
dig out,
  1. to remove earth or debris from by digging.
  2. to hollow out by digging.
  3. to find by searching: to dig out facts for a term paper.
dig up,
  1. to discover in the course of digging.
  2. to locate; find: to dig up information.

Origin of dig

1
1275–1325; Middle English diggen, perhaps representing an OE derivative of dīc ditch; Middle French diguer to dig (< Middle Dutch) is attested later and apparently not the immediate source

dig

2
[dig]

verb (used with object), dug, dig·ging. Slang.

to understand: Can you dig what I'm saying?
to take notice of: Dig those shoes he's wearing.
to like, love, or enjoy: She digs that kind of music. We really dig each other.

Origin of dig

2
1935–40; perhaps < Irish (an) dtuig(eann tú mé?) do you understand me? and parallel expressions with tuigim I understand (see twig2)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for dug

unearth, search, shovel, drill, dredge, discover, penetrate, exhume, bulldoze, scoop, sift, burrow, clean, enter, uncover, bore, gouge, harvest, excavate, punch

Examples from the Web for dug

Contemporary Examples of dug

Historical Examples of dug

  • He dug a hole and he covered it with branches and leaves and a little grass.

    Ancient Man

    Hendrik Willem van Loon

  • Trenches were dug round the hut and tent, so that they must have had rain.

  • Robert went out into the garden, and dug some worms for bait.

    Brave and Bold

    Horatio Alger

  • Then we splintered the hot stone by throwing water on it, and dug out the splinters.

    The Trail Book

    Mary Austin

  • She gnashed her white tusks, and dug into the sand with her brazen claws.

    The Gorgon's Head

    Nathaniel Hawthorne

British Dictionary definitions for dug

dug

1

verb

the past tense and past participle of dig

dug

2

noun

the nipple, teat, udder, or breast of a female mammal
a human breast, esp when old and withered

Word Origin for dug

C16: of Scandinavian origin; compare Danish dægge to coddle, Gothic daddjan to give suck

dug

3

noun

a Scot word for dog

Dig

noun

NZ informal short for Digger (def. 1)

dig

verb digs, digging or dug

(when tr, often foll by up) to cut into, break up, and turn over or remove (earth, soil, etc), esp with a spade
to form or excavate (a hole, tunnel, passage, etc) by digging, usually with an implement or (of animals) with feet, claws, etcto dig a tunnel
(often foll by through) to make or force (one's way), esp by removing obstructionshe dug his way through the crowd
(tr; often foll by out or up) to obtain by diggingto dig potatoes; to dig up treasure
(tr; often foll by out or up) to find or discover by effort or searchingto dig out unexpected facts
(tr; foll by in or into) to thrust or jab (a sharp instrument, weapon, etc); pokehe dug his spurs into the horse's side
(tr; foll by in or into) to mix (compost, etc) with soil by digging
(tr) informal to like, understand, or appreciate
(intr) US slang to work hard, esp for an examination
(intr) British informal to have lodgingsI dig in South London

noun

the act of digging
a thrust or poke, esp in the ribs
a cutting or sarcastic remark
informal an archaeological excavation
See also dig in, digs

Word Origin for dig

C13 diggen, of uncertain origin
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
Word Origin and History for dug
n.

"animal nipple," or, contemptuously, "the human female breast," 1520s, origin obscure, related to Swedish dagga, Danish dægge "to suckle."

v.

past tense and past participle of dig (v.).

dig

n.

late 17c. as "a tool for digging," from dig (v.). Meaning "archaeological expedition" is from 1896. Meaning "thrust or poke" (as with an elbow) is from 1819; figurative sense of this is from 1840.

dig

v.

early 14c. (diggen), of uncertain origin, perhaps related to dike and ditch, either via Old French diguer (ultimately from a Germanic source), or directly from an unrecorded Old English word. Native words were deolfan (see delve), grafan (see grave (v.)).

Slang sense of "understand" first recorded 1934 in Black English, probably based on the notion of "excavate." A slightly varied sense of "appreciate" emerged 1939. Strong past participle dug appeared 16c., but is not etymological. Related: Digging.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper