dug1
[duhg]
dug2
[duhg]
- the mamma or the nipple of a female mammal.
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Origin of dug2
1520–30; origin obscure; perhaps < a Germanic base akin to Danish dægge, Norwegian degge, Swedish dägga to suckle
dig1
[dig]
- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- dig in,
- to dig trenches, as in order to defend a position in battle.
- to maintain one's opinion or position.
- 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,
- to remove earth or debris from by digging.
- to hollow out by digging.
- to find by searching: to dig out facts for a term paper.
- dig up,
- to discover in the course of digging.
- to locate; find: to dig up information.
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Origin of dig1
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
dig2
[dig]
- 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.
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Origin of dig2
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. 2018
Examples from the Web for dug
Contemporary Examples
Occasionally someone climbed over it or crashed through it or dug under it, or made himself a glider and flew through it.
The Stacks: How The Berlin Wall Inspired John le Carré’s First MasterpieceJohn le Carré
November 8, 2014
And in Italy, the 16th-century body of an old woman was dug up in 2006 with a brick in her mouth.
Following a storm of criticism, Franck dug in on the comparison in two further posts.
When I dug around, I discovered that their creation is surprisingly simple.
The second outing, “The Junior Professor Solution,” dug deeper into the same theme.
Historical Examples
He dug a hole and he covered it with branches and leaves and a little grass.
Ancient ManHendrik Willem van Loon
Trenches were dug round the hut and tent, so that they must have had rain.
Explorations in AustraliaJohn Forrest
Robert went out into the garden, and dug some worms for bait.
Brave and BoldHoratio Alger
Then we splintered the hot stone by throwing water on it, and dug out the splinters.
The Trail BookMary Austin
She gnashed her white tusks, and dug into the sand with her brazen claws.
The Gorgon's HeadNathaniel Hawthorne
dug1
- the past tense and past participle of dig
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dug2
- the nipple, teat, udder, or breast of a female mammal
- a human breast, esp when old and withered
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Word Origin
C16: of Scandinavian origin; compare Danish dægge to coddle, Gothic daddjan to give suck
dug3
- a Scot word for dog
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Dig
- NZ informal short for Digger (def. 1)
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dig
- (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
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- the act of digging
- a thrust or poke, esp in the ribs
- a cutting or sarcastic remark
- informal an archaeological excavation
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Word Origin
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."
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v.
past tense and past participle of dig (v.).
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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.
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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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper