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🐶 A spotted dog 🌍 From Dalmatia 🧑 A person from Dalmatia
Dalmatian

Dalmatian

13 2.7
A large dog with a white coat and black or brown spots
  • noun
  • /ˌdælˈmeɪʃən/
translation icon : dálmata
  • The Dalmatian is known for its unique spotted coat and playful personality.
  • 101 Dalmatians
  • a Dalmatian dog
  • spotted Dalmatian

And they all got a Dalmatian named Sparky Spot spot.

Examples

  • A yuppie dog, a Dalmatian, nosed its way across a lawn and accompanied Hershleder's shuffling gait.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • Two Dalmatians were found roaming, having somehow escaped their burning house.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • - Well, actually, I got a dalmatian, and now he s my best friend.

    Hometown Hero (2017)

  • The dalmatian made the evening news.

    Big Trouble (2002)

  • Who wants to pet a Dalmatian ?

    From the Ashes (2024)

  • He had a pet Dalmatian.

    Oculus (2014)

  • The Dalmatian loped after the runner, his spotted tongue hanging from his mouth.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • Several of the cages contained dogs, including a large black-and-white Dalmatian that stared curiously at Salem.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • Many families choose a Dalmatian as their pet because of its friendly nature.

  • She adopted a Dalmatian from the animal shelter and named him Spot.

Synonyms

coach dog
vsDalmatian
  • Archaic
4.1

A large dog with short white fur and black or brown spots

is the regional name referencing Dalmatia rather than the alternative name
carriage dog
vsDalmatian
  • Archaic
5.2

A large white dog with black or brown spots that used to run beside carriages

focuses on the breed's regional origin rather than its original working role
liver-spotted dalmatian
vsDalmatian
6.4

A white dog with brown spots instead of black

refers to the same breed typically with black spots rather than brown ones

Compounds

Dalmatian iris
8.6

A flowering plant with pale purple flowers from Dalmatia

Dalmatian laburnum
9.9

A shrub with bright yellow flowers and poisonous seeds

Dalmatian pyrethrum
9.9

A white-flowered plant from the Balkans used to make natural insect spray

liver-spotted dalmatian
6.4

A white dog with brown spots instead of black

Surface Forms

Dalmatian singular
Dalmatians plural

Morphology

Dalmatian = Dalmatia (semi-transparent) = Dalmat + ian

The breed name is clearly derived from the place name, but the specific lexicalized meaning 'a spotted dog breed' is a conventionalized sense that may not be obvious from the place name alone.

Etymology

Dalmatian for the dog comes from the region Dalmatia, where the breed first came from. Like a 'German shepherd' is named for Germany, this name shows the dog's origin and is why the breed is called a Dalmatian and is famous for its spotted coat.