What does bulldog mean?
A bulldog is a distinctive breed of dog known for its compact, muscular body, broad head, short muzzle, and characteristically wrinkled face, with the English and French bulldogs being the best-known varieties. The word originated in seventeenth-century England, when dogs of this type were bred for bull-baiting, a cruel sport in which they were set upon bulls; the breed's legendary grip and refusal to release gave rise to the word's figurative use. Today that sense is far more common than the sport it came from: calling someone 'a bulldog' praises their tenacity, grit, and unwillingness to give up on a task or argument. Phrases like 'bulldog spirit' and 'bulldog tenacity' appear regularly in journalism and everyday speech on both sides of the Atlantic. The bulldog itself has become a beloved cultural symbol, serving as a mascot for sports teams, universities, and even national identity.
A muscular, thickset dog of a breed with a broad head, short muzzle, and loose wrinkled skin.
"The English bulldog snored contentedly on the rug."
A person who stubbornly and tenaciously pursues an objective without letting go.
"She proved a real bulldog in negotiations, refusing every compromise until the deal suited her."
Informal; almost always complimentary.
Standard regular plural; applies to both the literal dog and the figurative sense.
"Bulldogs are prone to breathing difficulties because of their short muzzles."
The bulldog's name comes from the brutal sport of bull-baiting — the dog was bred literally to grab a bull by the nose and not let go, which is why 'bulldog' still means unshakable determination today.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bulldog
The word 'bulldog' is a straightforward English compound of 'bull' and 'dog', first attested in the early seventeenth century. It referred to dogs bred specifically for bull-baiting, a popular English blood sport in which a dog attempted to pin a bull by seizing its nose. When bull-baiting was outlawed in the nineteenth century, the breed was softened in temperament but kept both its name and its reputation for tenacity. Related coinages from the same sporting world include 'bully beef' and other compounds built on 'bull', while the figurative use of the word grew directly out of the animal's famed persistence.
How bulldog is actually used
The figurative sense is informal but widely understood in British and American English, usually implying admiration rather than criticism. The plural is normally 'bulldogs'. Capitalized breed names (English bulldog, French bulldog) are common in everyday usage though kennel clubs style them differently.
Easily confused with bulldog
'Pit bull' refers to several breeds of terrier-type dogs developed for dog fighting, whereas 'bulldog' typically denotes the stocky, flat-faced breed descended from bull-baiting dogs.