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waterdog

American  
[waw-ter-dawg, -dog, wot-er-] / ˈwɔ tərˌdɔg, -ˌdɒg, ˈwɒt ər- /
Or water dog

noun

  1. any of several large salamanders, as a mudpuppy or hellbender.


Etymology

Origin of waterdog

First recorded in 1855–60; water + dog

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It’s easy to look at the Neuse River waterdog and feel a pang of pity.

From Scientific American • Feb. 2, 2022

Like the Neuse River waterdog, they spend their entire lives confined to water with larval gills and weakling limbs.

From Scientific American • Feb. 2, 2022

The waterdog has the largest genome of any four-footed beast on Earth.

From Scientific American • Feb. 2, 2022

The Neuse River waterdog can approach 28 centimeters, which is still twice as long as most other salamanders.

From Scientific American • Feb. 2, 2022

I'm too much of a waterdog for that, Bessie.

From Dick the Bank Boy Or, A Missing Fortune by Webster, Frank V.