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Glite Dictionary
Belgian griffon

Belgian griffon

8.6
A very small, strong dog from Belgium with rough hair and a short bearded snout
  • noun
  • /ˈbɛldʒən ˈɡrɪfən/
translation icon : griffón belga
  • She entered her Belgian griffon in the annual dog show and won first prize.

Examples

  • The Belgian griffon is known for its lively personality and curious nature.

  • Many people are drawn to the Belgian griffon because of its expressive face and affectionate temperament.

  • The Belgian griffon is known for its charming personality.

  • I saw a Belgian griffon at the pet store yesterday.

  • The Belgian griffon is known for its distinctive beard and playful personality.

  • She proudly showed off her Belgian griffon at the dog show this weekend.

  • With its small size and charming looks, the Belgian griffon makes a great companion.

Synonyms

griffon
vsBelgian griffon
1 8.6

A small or medium dog with a rough, wiry coat often kept as a pet

is narrower, referring to very small compact dogs with a bearded muzzle
Brussels griffon
vsBelgian griffon
8.1

A very small, strong dog from Belgium with a rough coat and a short bearded face

is a more general name for similar very small compact dogs

Surface Forms

Belgian griffon singular
Belgian griffons plural

Morphology

Belgian + griffon

The meaning is directly compositional: 'Belgian' (from Belgium) + 'griffon' (a type of companion dog) yields a griffon breed originating in Belgium. This demonym + breed pattern is transparent and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

The name Belgian griffon comes from Belgium and the old French word griffon, which was used for rough, wire-haired dogs. Breeders around Brussels made a very small, bearded dog with that rough coat, so the name links its country ('Belgian') and its type ('griffon') and now means a tiny, compact dog breed.