Definitions
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- proper noun
depression
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
A personification.
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Examples
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john commented on the word black dog
Slang, generally British, for depression. Winston Churchill referred to his depression as his "black dog," but according to this horribly named site the term predates his use.
October 2, 2007
chained_bear commented on the word black dog
I think there's quite a bit of folk legend in England surrounding black dogs as apparitions or haunting figures. I wonder if that's where Mr. Churchill came up with the phrase--which does appropriately describe depression, if you ask me. I wish I remembered more about the legends to explain them properly. Perhaps someone else more knowledgeable will pipe up.
October 2, 2007
colleen commented on the word black dog
It's just a death portent, like the "Hound of the Baskervilles." Sometimes just seeing it is enough, sometimes it, pun intentded, dogs you a bit before you die.
wiki entry, which covers most of the bases.
October 2, 2007
reesetee commented on the word black dog
You're right, John. That is a horribly named site. But this is a very interesting (and I think apt) expression to describe depression.
I didn't mean to rhyme there. It just happened.
October 2, 2007
uselessness commented on the word black dog
Sherlock Holmes. I need to read those again.
October 2, 2007
chained_bear commented on the word black dog
Thanks colleen. Why didn't I think of searching the Internet? *smacks forehead*
BTW, I saw one once. But I think it was a hallucination from lack of sleep and/or rural Mississippi.
Don't ask.
October 3, 2007
reesetee commented on the word black dog
Are you sure it wasn't this dog?
October 3, 2007
chained_bear commented on the word black dog
Nah. This one was huge and had glowing eyes. Mine is small and... well, has glowing eyes.
October 3, 2007
reesetee commented on the word black dog
Hmm. Must have been rural Mississippi, then.
October 3, 2007
colleen commented on the word black dog
You'd be amazed what you find in Mississippi.
October 3, 2007
reesetee commented on the word black dog
I would be. But I'll bet chained_bear wouldn't. ;-)
October 3, 2007
colleen commented on the word black dog
Point!
October 3, 2007
trivet commented on the word black dog
C_b, maybe you saw the Loup Garou...
How close were you to Louisiana?
October 3, 2007
colleen commented on the word black dog
Mm, yeah. That would be the rougarou, if she was down thattaway...
October 3, 2007
reesetee commented on the word black dog
Creepy. However it's spelled, it sounds like a cousin to the Jersey Devil.
October 3, 2007
trivet commented on the word black dog
Oooh - another figment - I like the picture:)
October 3, 2007
chained_bear commented on the word black dog
Tanglefoot does a song called Loup Garou. That's the first I ever heard of it (coupla two-three years ago).
October 10, 2007
colleen commented on the word black dog
I think that Dr. John does as well!
October 10, 2007