schipperke

[ skip-er-kee, -kuh ]

noun

1. one of a Belgian breed of small dogs having erect ears and a thick, black coat, originally used as a watchdog on boats in the Netherlands and Belgium.

schipperke

/ ˈʃɪpəkɪ; ˈskɪp- /

noun

1. a small Dutch breed of tailless dog with a foxy head, pricked ears, and usually a black coat

Word History and Origins

Origin of schipperke¹

1885–90; < dialectal Dutch: little boatman, equivalent to schipper skipper ¹ + -ke -kin

Word History and Origins

Origin of schipperke¹

C19: from Dutch, literally: little boatman (from its use as a guard dog on canal barges). See skipper ¹

Example Sentences

One of these dogs was a Schipperke, the breed kept by the bargemen of Belgium to guard their goods and chattels.

From Project Gutenberg