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Eskimo dog

Eskimo dog

1 6.0
An Arctic dog with thick fur used to pull sleds over snow
  • noun
  • /ˈɛskɪmoʊ dɔg/
  • US
translation icon : perro esquimal
  • The Eskimo dog is known for its thick coat and strength in pulling sleds across the icy terrain.
  • American Eskimo dog

Examples

  • The Eskimo dog is known for its strength.

  • Early explorers often relied on teams of Eskimo dogs to travel across snowy landscapes.

  • Her family has raised Eskimo dogs for generations, training them to pull heavy sleds over long distances.

  • The Eskimo dog is renowned for its strength and endurance in freezing Arctic conditions.

  • Many Eskimo dogs are trained to pull sleds.

  • Many families in the Arctic rely on the Eskimo dog to help them transport goods through deep snow.

  • Her Eskimo dog eagerly pulled the sled as they raced through the snow-covered landscape.

Synonyms

husky
vsEskimo dog
14 2.4

A strong dog with thick fur used to pull sleds

emphasizes heavy coat and traditional use pulling across snow and ice
sled dog
vsEskimo dog
  • UK
6 2.7

A dog trained to pull a sled in snowy areas

is a specific breed rather than a dog trained to pull sleds
Siberian husky
vsEskimo dog
1 2.3

A medium-sized dog with thick fur and erect ears used for pulling sleds

refers more generally to heavy-coated Arctic sled breeds
sledge dog
vsEskimo dog
  • UK
4.3

A dog trained to pull a sled in snowy places

is a specific breed rather than a dog trained to pull sleds

Surface Forms

Eskimo dog singular
Eskimo dogs plural

Morphology

Eskimo + dog

The compound combines the geographic/ethnic modifier 'Eskimo' (Arctic people) with 'dog', so a learner who knows both words can infer it denotes a dog associated with Arctic people—typically a sled or working dog. This follows a common noun+noun compositional pattern found across languages, making the basic meaning transparent to a B1 learner even if they may not know breed-specific details.

Etymology

Eskimo dog comes from early explorers who saw thick-coated dogs used by Arctic people who were called 'Eskimo' to pull sleds, so they called them 'Eskimo dogs'. That's why Eskimo dog today means a strong, sled-pulling Arctic dog.