pug

/pəg/

/pəg/

Other forms: pugs; pugging; pugged

A pug is a solid little dog with a wrinkly face and short muzzle. Bred to be companions, most pugs are content to hang out on the sofa with their owners.

The origins of the pug go back to ancient China, where a similar dog was kept as a pet by royal families. These early pugs lived in luxury, and were even guarded by soldiers. Today's pugs tend to be nearly as coddled. The small dogs must wear sweaters or jackets in cooler weather, and they lack physical stamina because of their short legs and flat noses — a perfect excuse to pick up a pug and carry it.

Definitions of pug

1. noun

   a small, short-haired breed of dog with a tightly curled tail and flat, wrinkled muzzle; first bred in China
   synonyms: pug-dog

   type of:

   Canis familiaris, dog, domestic dog

   a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
2. noun

   a short nose; flattened and turned up at the end
   synonyms: pug nose

   type of:

   nose, olfactory organ

   the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals