Pitbull

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A breed known for its strength and loyalty which can also exhibit aggressive behavior if not properly trained or socialized
2. A muscular canine recognized for its companionship and potential for aggression, requiring careful management and training
3. An often misunderstood dog breed prized for fidelity and courage while sometimes displaying protectiveness that mandates responsible ownership

Etymology: The word is a clipping of "pit bull terrier," and its two halves tell the story. "Pit" refers to the fighting arena, the sunken pit in which dogs were set against one another, and "bull terrier" names a breed that combined the bulldog with the terrier. The full name therefore describes a dog bred for combat in a pit, and the shorter form kept that origin in its first half. The breed was not named for the bull in the sense of a bull-baiting animal, but for the mix of bulldog and terrier blood that went into it. Early pit dogs were prized for tenacity and a willingness to hold on, and those qualities are what the modern meaning inherits, now joined to the loyalty and strength that owners and breeders emphasize today. The aggressive reputation described in the definition has the same roots, since the breed was developed for fighting.

Synonyms: bully breed, staffordshire bull terrier