Why Is It Called Hangdog?

also hangdog, 1670s, apparently "befitting a hang-dog," that is, a despicable, degraded fellow, so called either from being fit only to hang a dog (with construction as in cutthroat, daredevil) or of being a low person (i.e. dog) fit only for hanging. The noun, however, is attested only from 1680s.

What is a hangdog mean?

: a despicable or miserable person.

Is Canine a Latin word?

The adjective and noun canine come from the Latin adjective 'caninus', derived from the word for dog, 'canis'. The noun was first used in English in the 19th century, two centuries after the adjective. Canine means relating to dogs and a canine is a dog.