General
devil dog
What does devil dog mean?
Nickname Marines wear with pride, supposedly given by German troops at the Battle of Belleau Wood in 1918, who allegedly called the attacking Marines 'Teufelhunden' — devil dogs — for their ferocity. Historians argue whether the Germans ever actually said it, but the Corps adopted the term immediately for recruiting posters and it's been Marine identity ever since. Still used in mottos, mascots and motivational shouting.
"Stay frosty, Devil Dogs — we step off at dawn."
Origin
WWI, Battle of Belleau Wood (June 1918). Said to be the German 'Teufelhunden' — though the linguistic evidence is shaky and the term may have been coined by Marine recruiters back home.
Frequently asked questions
What does Devil Dog mean?
It's a nickname for a US Marine, said to come from a WWI German legend at the Battle of Belleau Wood.
How do you use Devil Dog in a sentence?
"Once a Marine, always a Devil Dog."
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Vocabulary Flow — saved to your collection.
