Rhodesian ridgeback

American  

noun

1. one of a South African breed of medium-sized muscular hunting dogs having a short, glossy, red or tan coat, with a characteristic ridge of hair along the spine consisting of parallel crowns of hair growing in the opposite direction of the rest of the coat, originally developed for hunting lions but now used primarily as a guard dog.

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Rhodesian ridgeback British  

/ ˈrɪdʒˌbæk /

noun

1. a large short-haired breed of dog characterized by a ridge of hair growing along the back in the opposite direction to the rest of the coat. It was originally a hunting dog from South Africa

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Etymology

Origin of Rhodesian ridgeback

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

For the most recent study, they focused on German short/wirehaired pointer, mastiff, Newfoundland, Rhodesian ridgeback and Siberian husky.

From Science Daily • May 28, 2024

One of their dogs, a Rhodesian ridgeback named Finn, has separation anxiety.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 4, 2022

There people comfort her and she finds emotional support from Freddie, her friend’s Rhodesian ridgeback.

From Washington Post • Sep. 6, 2021

Some of the priest’s dozen rescue dogs accompany Father Roy to Mass. On Jan. 18, he brought Charlotte, a black lab, and Bandito, a Rhodesian ridgeback mix.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2019

Q-Tip is perched at his kitchen counter, eating cinnamon-coated apple slices and stroking his dog, an elegant Rhodesian ridgeback named after Fela Kuti.

From The Guardian • Nov. 17, 2016