guard dog

or guarddog

noun

1. a large, aggressive dog, as a German shepherd or Doberman pinscher, trained to guard persons or property and often to attack or restrain on command.

Word History and Origins

Origin of guard dog¹

First recorded in 1790–1800

Example Sentences

For Holmes, this would mean considering all of the various ways in which a theft could occur without the guard dog barking.

From The Daily Beast

If a guard dog licks one of your dinner plates, for example, serious scrubbing is involved to restore its cleanliness.

From The Daily Beast

Related Words

• attack dog