Portuguese water dog

noun

: any of a breed of medium-sized robust dogs that have a large broad head and curly or wavy coat and are strong swimmers

Examples of Portuguese water dog in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The black and white Portuguese water dog, who joined the first family in the White House in April 2009, was the last presidential pet before President Joe Biden's dogs, Major and Champ, joined the White House earlier this year. Mark Osborne, ABC News, 8 May 2021 Bo, a Portuguese water dog given to the Obama children, Sasha and Malia, by Sen. Ted Kennedy and his wife Victoria in 2009, was roughly 12 years old. NBC News, 8 May 2021 All three variants produce a coat like that of the Portuguese water dog adopted by the First Family. Rebecca Coffey, Discover Magazine, 5 Oct. 2010 The Obamas also have another Portuguese water dog, Sunny. Veronica Stracqualursi, CNN, 8 May 2021 The Obama family eventually settled on a purebred black-and-white Portuguese water dog named Bo. Nick Thomas, Hartford Courant, 20 Feb. 2023 This Portuguese water dog is worried about ocean acidification. Jake Goldwasser, The New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2022 The Obama's Bo, a male Portuguese water dog, joined the family at the White House in April 2009. Leanne Italie, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1939, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Portuguese water dog was in 1939

Dictionary Entries Near Portuguese water dog

Cite this Entry

“Portuguese water dog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Portuguese%20water%20dog. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!