Shih Tzu

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English[edit]

WOTD – 16 February 2018
 Shih Tzu on Wikipedia

Etymology[edit]

A Shih Tzu.
A Pekingese.
A Chinese guardian lion statue on the Valletta Waterfront in Valletta, Malta. The Pekingese is said to resemble these statues.

From the Wade–Giles romanisation shih1-tzŭ5 of Mandarin 獅子／狮子 (shīzi, “lion”), a contraction of 獅子狗／狮子狗 (shīzigǒu, literally “lion dog”), (Can this(+) etymology be sourced?) from the breed's resemblance to Chinese guardian lion statues. The original Mandarin word now refers only to the Pekingese, while this breed now properly goes by the name 西施犬 (xīshīquǎn, literally “Xi Shi dog”).

This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.
Particularly: “Reason for potential spelling/semantic shift from "lion dog" to "Xi Shi dog". The Chinese Wikipedia article for 西施犬 (xīshīquǎn) claims that this is due to marketing without citation. The English Wikipedia article (Shih Tzu#Etymology) claims it is due to semantic confusion, "backed" by one disputable source that doesn't seem to make such a claim.”

Pronunciation[edit]

Noun[edit]

Shih Tzu (plural Shih Tzus or Shih Tzu)

  1. A small dog breed which originated in China; a dog of that breed.
    • [1904, Herbert Compton, The Twentieth Century Dog: Compiled from the Contributions of over Five Hundred Experts, volume I (Non-sporting), London: G. Richards, →OCLC, page 263:
      In their native land the Pekinese dogs are known as "Shih-Tzu-Kom," which means the "Lion-Dog."]
    • 1937 January–June, The American Kennel Gazette, volume 54, part 1, New York, N.Y.: American Kennel Club, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 166:
      In New York, I had the great pleasure of meeting Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Morgan who showed me their dogs from Pekin. Mr. Morgan has written several articles on Lhasa Apso and Shih Tzu.
    • 1983, Daniel F. Tortora, “The Toy Dogs”, in The Right Dog for You, 1st Fireside edition, New York, N.Y.: Fireside, Simon & Schuster, →ISBN, page 162:
      The Shih Tzu (pronounced Sheed-zoo) has a long, dense, wavy coat that completely hides its legs. Its name means "little lion" in Chinese. Descriptions include "very active, lively and alert, with a distinctly arrogant carriage"; […] Behavior problems may include irritable snapping and touch-shyness, especially when hot. A Shih Tzu may be hard to housebreak.
    • 1998, Jane Stern, Michael Stern, “The Beauty of the Beast”, in Dog Eat Dog: A Very Human Book about Dogs and Dog Shows, 1st Fireside edition, New York, N.Y.: Fireside, Simon & Schuster, →ISBN, page 155:
      A plucked and stripped terrier, a properly brushed Shih Tzu, or a Standard Poodle in a continental clip with powdered pompoms will turn heads on any sidewalk as well as in the show ring.
    • 2014 November, Elaine Viets, chapter 6, in A Dog Gone Murder: Josie Marcus, Mystery Shopper (An Obsidian Mystery), Obsidian, Penguin Group, →ISBN, page 37:
      "And who is your baby?" he asked Jane. / "Stuart Little," she said. "He's a shih tzu." / "We love shih tzus," Uncle Bob said. "Let me show you all the fun things we have for Stuart."
    • 2014, Jon Han, “Your Chosen Breed: The Shih Tzu”, in The Complete Guide to the Shih Tzu, [United Kingdom?]: For Dogs Sake, →ISBN, page 33:
      Shih Tzu tend to get along better with other Shih Tzu than other breeds. Maybe it's because they are not threatened by dogs that are around the same size or maybe each dog can sense that the other is part of the same dog family.
    • 2015, Lisa Genova, chapter 2, in Inside the O’Briens: A Novel, New York, N.Y.: Gallery Books, Simon & Schuster, →ISBN, page 11:
      She came home from the animal shelter with a shih tzu. He still thinks she did that just to spite him, her way of getting in the last word. […] Yaz is a good dog, and Joe is man enough to be seen out in Charlestown walking a shih tzu. As long as Rosie doesn't dress the pooch in one of those friggin' sweaters.

Alternative forms[edit]

Synonyms[edit]

Descendants[edit]

  • → Japanese: シーズー (shīzū)

Translations[edit]

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