dog·trot
ˈdȯg-ˌträt 
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
dogtrotted; dogtrotting; dogtrots
: to move or progress at a dogtrot
Examples of dogtrot in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Rachel Wegner, The Tennessean, 18 Nov. 2024
Many of the old dogtrot homes and clapboard houses can be found around the state.
—Curtis Varnell The Timepiece, arkansasonline.com, 13 Oct. 2024
The sprawling, low-slung ranch-style home in Fredericksburg, about two hours outside of Austin, Texas, has two kitchens and a huge dogtrot.
—Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 2 May 2024
The architecture of dogtrot houses was unique to their rural settings: Contemporary urban Southerners had smaller plots of land and as a result built tall, narrow houses like Charleston's single houses or New Orleans' shotgun houses.
—Maggie Burch, Southern Living, 6 Dec. 2023
Today While the main purpose of the dogtrot layout is not as necessary in the modern age, the feature is still a unique element that folks choose to incorporate into their homes.
—Maggie Burch, Southern Living, 6 Dec. 2023
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
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Noun
The dogtrot style house also had stables, a blacksmith shop, a state stand and a stone wall built by people who were enslaved.
—Rachel Wegner, The Tennessean, 18 Nov. 2024
Many of the old dogtrot homes and clapboard houses can be found around the state.
—Curtis Varnell The Timepiece, arkansasonline.com, 13 Oct. 2024
The sprawling, low-slung ranch-style home in Fredericksburg, about two hours outside of Austin, Texas, has two kitchens and a huge dogtrot.
—Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 2 May 2024
The architecture of dogtrot houses was unique to their rural settings: Contemporary urban Southerners had smaller plots of land and as a result built tall, narrow houses like Charleston's single houses or New Orleans' shotgun houses.
—Maggie Burch, Southern Living, 6 Dec. 2023
Today While the main purpose of the dogtrot layout is not as necessary in the modern age, the feature is still a unique element that folks choose to incorporate into their homes.
—Maggie Burch, Southern Living, 6 Dec. 2023
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
Cite this Entry
“Dogtrot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dogtrot. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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