Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
dog's letter. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
dog's letter, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
dog's letter in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
dog's letter you have here. The definition of the word
dog's letter will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
dog's letter, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
Calque of Latin littera canīna.
Noun
dog's letter
- (rare) The letter R, which was trilled in Latin, imitating the sound of a snarling dog.
1640, Samuel Ramsey, The English Language and English Grammar, New York and London: G.P. Putnam's Sons, translation of original by Ben Jonson, published 1892, page 168:R is the Dog's letter, and hurreth in the sound; the tongue striking the inner palate, with a trembling about the teeth.
1858, Rosina Bulwer Lytton, The World and His Wife, Or, A Person of Consequence , volume 2, London: Charles J. Skeet, page 19:And in this short query the dog's letter, the r, whirred through the air, like the ricket of a pheasant rising; […]
Translations