gun dog

American  

Or gundog

noun

1. a dog trained to help a hunter, as by pointing or retrieving game.

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gun dog British  

noun

1. a dog trained to work with a hunter or gamekeeper, esp in retrieving, pointing at, or flushing game

2. a dog belonging to any breed adapted to these activities

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Etymology

Origin of gun dog

First recorded in 1735–45

Example Sentences

They were bred by aristocrat Sir Dudley Marjoribanks, who wanted a gun dog suited to Scottish Highland terrain.

From BBC • Jul. 12, 2023

The December/January issue, titled “Best of the Sporting South,” includes a look at gun dog trainers and a feature story about bird shooting in England.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 1, 2016

A loyal gun dog always striving for the club's best interests.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 5, 2014

A high-quality gun dog adds riches to your life.

From Time Magazine Archive

Ruthless as a gun dog, he picked up with rapid and unflagging instinct the traces of everything in the world I was most insecure about, all the things I was in most agony to hide.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt