Dog Words & Phrases

Tyke

Meaning: A non-pedigree and less than well-trained dog; persistently troublesome terrier; mischievious or bumptious person (especially a child).

Origins and History: Old Scandinavian tik meant a dog that was likely to cause problems, thus particularly a bitch.  U.S. English has concentrated since the seventeenth century on the more canine aspects, whereas British English has concentrated on the unruliness, especially as applied (from 1700) to people from Yorkshire or Scotland.

*From the book Dog the Wag by Mike Darton

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