Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
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noun
A person who does menial work, a servant.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Ireland, UK
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: batman, grunt, factotum, gofer, handyman, jack of all trades, odd job, workhorse
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Alternative form of dog's body (“pease pudding”)
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: alt-of, alternative
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To act as a dogsbody, to do menial work
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
a worker who has to do all the unpleasant or boring jobs that no one else wants to do
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: proletarian, prole, worker
History
From dog + -s- + body. 1818, British navy slang (dog's body), originally derogatory reference to unappetizing pease pudding (compare dog's breakfast), as if it were made of mashed dog meat. In 20th century applied to low-ranked sailors, thence menial servants in wider usage.
Across languages
12 source translations are retained for this English entry.
