noun
dingo
DING-goh/ˈdɪŋɡəʊ/
A wild dog native to Australia.
A sandy-coated dingo stands alert among the sparse bushes.
Etymology
The Dharruk word meant “tame dog,” but English speakers applied it to wild Australian dogs. The familiar English meaning therefore reverses the original distinction between tame and wild.
In context
The dingo is a canine endemic to Australia. They’re lithe apex predators, and belong to the Canis genus – the same family that has wolves, foxes, coyotes and dogs.
More examples
- Dingoes hunt small animals and sometimes larger prey.
- We spot a dingo near the edge of camp.
- The dingo's pointed ears turn toward the sound.
Forms
dingo · dingoes · dingos
Similar words
- wild dog
- Wild dog also covers species found outside Australia.
- dog
- Dog is broader and usually refers to a domesticated animal.