dug
Dug (noun) means the udder, teat, or nipple of a female mammal. Example: “The piglets fought over their mother's dugs.”
How to use dug
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA somewhat old-fashioned or coarse word for a mammal's teat.
Mostly used of animals; applying it to a human is considered crude or archaic.
Word forms
dugs plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The piglets fought over their mother's _____.
Etymology
From earlier dugge ("pap, teat"; compare also English dialectal ducky, dukky (“the female breast”)), apparently connected to Danish dægge (“to suckle”), Swedish dägga (“to suck”), Old English dēon (“to suckle”). More at doe. Compare also doug.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “dug” mean?
The word “dug” means the udder, teat, or nipple of a female mammal. In plain terms, a somewhat old-fashioned or coarse word for a mammal's teat.
How do you pronounce “dug”?
“Dug” is pronounced duhg (/dʌɡ/ in IPA).
How do you use “dug” in a sentence?
Here is “dug” used in a sentence: “The piglets fought over their mother's dugs.”
What part of speech is “dug”?
“Dug” is a noun.
Is “dug” a common word?
“Dug” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between dug as a past tense verb and dug as a noun?
Dug is most commonly the past tense of "dig," as in "she dug a hole." As a separate noun, dug refers to the udder, teat, or nipple of a female mammal, an older and now less common usage.
Is dug as a noun commonly used today?
No, the noun sense of dug referring to an animal's udder or teat is dated and rarely used in modern English, appearing mostly in older or dialectal writing.