dogtrot

1 of 2

noun

dog·​trot ˈdȯg-ˌträt How to pronounce dogtrot (audio)
1
: a quick easy gait suggesting that of a dog
2
chiefly Southern US and Midland US : a roofed passage similar to a breezeway
especially : one connecting two parts of a cabin

dogtrot

2 of 2

verb

dogtrotted; dogtrotting; dogtrots

intransitive verb

: to move or progress at a dogtrot

Examples of dogtrot in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The driver, without batting an eye at Berger and Cunningham, slowly drives straight toward moose number three, which stands its ground for a moment, then turns and begins running at a dogtrot, so to speak, up the road. Mark Wheeler, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019 Characteristics of a dogtrot floor plan are a large, open breezeway that runs through the middle of a house, with two separate living areas on either side but still under one roof. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 15 June 2023 This Lowcountry retreat exemplifies the historical styling of a dogtrot floor plant. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 15 June 2023 From there, a guide will lead guests to the Yancey dogtrot home, where Southern secession leader William Lowndes Yancey – the man Abraham Lincoln held responsible for the Civil War – lived and died. From Usa Today Network and Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2021 The first march of ten hours, myself in the lead with the compass, sometimes on a dogtrot, the sledges following in Indian file with drivers running beside or behind, placed us thirty miles to the good. Robert E. (robert Edwin) Peary, Harper's magazine, 10 June 2019 The family built two dogtrot cabins that are encapsulated within the Spring Run House. Taylor M. Riley, The Courier-Journal, 29 Mar. 2018 With its boxy geometry and dogtrot porch — three rooms on one side of the breezeway and two on the other — the folk-style house looks like a collaboration between Donald Judd and Annie Oakley. Michael Tortorello, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2018 The Biggses lived in a big old rambly house with rooms on both sides of a long dogtrot hallway and a deep, shady porch on the front. Sid Evans, Southern Living, 19 Feb. 2016 See More

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

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1900, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dogtrot was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near dogtrot

Cite this Entry

“Dogtrot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dogtrot. Accessed 29 Nov. 2023.

Kids Definition

dogtrot

noun
dog·​trot
-ˌträt
: a gentle trot
dogtrot verb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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