lapdog
UK[ˈlæpdɒɡ]US[ˈlæpdɔːɡ]
n
a small pet dog that is small enough to be held on the lap.
n
a person, organization, or country that is completely under the control of another and follows their orders without question.
Morpheme Breakdown
lap
dog
lap
dog
Etymology
the word 'lapdog' is a transparent compound from old english elements, directly describing its original, literal meaning. the first element, 'lap', refers to the area formed by the upper legs when seated, a place of comfort and proximity. the second element, 'dog', specifies the animal. the term's evolution into a metaphor for a subservient person is a logical semantic extension, drawing on the image of a small, pampered pet that is kept close and is eager to please its master. this figurative sense emerged in the early 18th century, leveraging the connotations of dependency, obedience, and lack of independence associated with such pets.
Analysis
Structure: lap + dog
lap (old english, 'læppa', meaning the loose part of a garment or the area from the waist to the knees of a seated person) + dog (old english, 'docga', meaning a canine animal).
Examples
the elderly lady was always accompanied by her tiny, fluffy lapdog.
critics accused the regulatory agency of being a lapdog for the industry it was supposed to oversee.
he dismissed the journalists as mere lapdogs for the political establishment.