foo dog

noun

variants or fu dog
often capitalized F
: a mythical lion-dog used as a decorative motif in Far Eastern art

Examples of foo dog in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web At a machine flanked by foo dogs, with graphics of phoenixes rising triumphant, yin yangs, golden frogs, and flying coins, my luck turned. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Mar. 2023 McCain’s jewelry and some of the decorative pieces, including four foo dog silver boxes for $500. Washington Post, 21 Feb. 2021 The flying lions that serve as handles are also called foo dogs and represent guardian lions, figures that originated in China. oregonlive, 3 Apr. 2020 The finishing touch: a giant ceramic foo dog, because sometimes fun is function enough! Eddie Ross, House Beautiful, 23 May 2019 Two enormous leonine foo dogs face each other across a bench on a terrace. Beth Dunlop, ELLE Decor, 8 Feb. 2010 Mooncakes are traditionally given most auspiciously during Mid-Autumn Festival but can be found in some Chinese bakeries year-round; and the foo dogs are actually mythical guardian lions. Louisa Chu, chicagotribune.com, 24 Jan. 2018 The Fortune Cookies Against Humanity are $18.88 each, and a foo dogs box with two cakes is $8.88. Louisa Chu, chicagotribune.com, 24 Jan. 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'foo dog.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Chinese (Beijing) Buddha; from the use of such figures in ceramic or stone as guardians of Buddhist temples

First Known Use

1953, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of foo dog was in 1953

Dictionary Entries Near foo dog

Cite this Entry

“Foo dog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foo%20dog. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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