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Glite Dictionary
dognapping

dognapping

1 7.1
The crime of stealing a dog from its owner to get money
  • noun
  • /ˈdɔɡˌnæpɪŋ/
translation icon : robo de perros
  • After the dognapping of her beloved pug, Sarah was devastated and offered a reward for its safe return.
  • dognapping case

Examples

  • They were dognapped by two dognapping dognappers.

    Air Buddies (2006)

  • Fifteen separate articles or briefs... ...in cases ranging from multiple homicides to dognapping.

    Veronica Mars (2014)

  • What is this shit anyway, big-time dognapping?" I tried to laugh.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • "Dognapping!"

    One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961)

  • Dognapping?

    Cruella (2021)

  • The local police are investigating a case of dognapping after several dogs were stolen from their owners last week.

  • The rise in dognapping incidents has prompted many pet owners to take extra precautions to safeguard their dogs.

Synonyms

dognap
vsdognapping
7.9

Stealing a dog to sell it or ask for money

is a criminal offence that may aim for illegal sale rather than just return

Surface Forms

dognapping singular
dognappings plural

Morphology

dognapping = dognap (semi-transparent) = dog + nap + ing

The word 'dognapping' is derived from 'dognap', which is a blend of 'dog' and 'kidnap'. While the components are clear, the specific crime-related meaning is not immediately obvious to all learners.

Etymology

Dognapping is made from dog and kidnapping, with kidnap meaning 'to take and hold for ransom'. So dognapping means 'stealing a dog', usually to ask for money or to sell the animal.