Lhasa apso

2 8.1

A small dog from Tibet with a long heavy coat kept as a companion or watchdog

noun
/ˈlɑːsə ˈɑːpsoʊ/

: Lhasa apso

In Tibet, the Lhasa apso was primarily kept as a companion and a watchdog.

Examples

Many families choose a Lhasa apso as their pet because of its gentle temperament.
lt's a Lhasa apso.

Wag the Dog (1997)
The Lhasa apso is known for its friendly nature and long, flowing coat.

Synonyms

Lhasa

vsLhasa apso

2 6.1

A small terrier dog with long heavy fur from Tibet that many people keep as a watchdog

is often kept primarily as a companion rather than as a working terrier

Surface Forms

Lhasa apso singular

Lhasa apsos plural

Morphology

Lhasa + apso

This is a lexicalized breed name formed from the place-name 'Lhasa' plus 'apso' (an element not meaningful to an English B1 learner). Knowing the constituents does not allow one to infer 'a small long-coated dog' because the name functions as an arbitrary proper noun for a breed and must be learned as a whole.

Etymology

Lhasa apso comes from the city Lhasa in Tibet and the word apso, which may mean 'bearded' or 'long-haired' in Tibetan. So the name gives a clear picture of a small, long-haired dog from Lhasa and explains why the breed is kept as a companion and alert watchdog.