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Glite Dictionary
Old English sheepdog

Old English sheepdog

1 5.3
A large strong dog with a long shaggy grey and white coat used for herding sheep
  • noun
  • /oʊld ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ ˈʃipdɔɡ/
translation icon : perro pastor inglés antiguo

Examples

  • Also, though the text is cited as 12 point Van Dijck, I am interested in learning something about the font used for the title pages and displays, which appears to be some type of "old English" decorative font, also apparently printed letterpress.

    Blog text (17)

  • The Old English sheepdog is known for its friendly disposition and thick, shaggy coat.

  • At the dog show, the Old English sheepdog impressed everyone with its playful personality and striking appearance.

  • Farmers often rely on the Old English sheepdog to help herd their sheep across the pastures.

Synonyms

bobtail
vsOld English sheepdog
7.4

A large shaggy sheepdog with a short tail and grey and white fur

is the original English herding breed bred for sheep rather than the broader name

How Hairy

Old English sheepdog
1 5.3

Surface Forms

Old English sheepdog singular
Old English sheepdogs plural

Morphology

old + English + sheepdog

The meaning is directly constructed from the constituents: 'sheepdog' indicates a dog bred to herd sheep and 'Old English' signals a traditional/English origin. A B1 learner who knows these words can infer this refers to a type/breed of English sheepdog, so the expression is compositionally transparent.

Etymology

Old English sheepdog gets its name from its place and job: the words Old English point to England long ago, and sheepdog is a dog that would 'herd' sheep. So the name reminds us that this breed was used to care for sheep in England, which is why it is called that today.