newfoundland
newfoundland Lexical Profile
• noun
Canadian A large island located off the eastern coast of North America in the Atlantic Ocean, comprising the most populous part of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
"They spent their summer vacation exploring the rugged, beautiful coastline of Newfoundland."
Canadian A very large, strong breed of working dog originating from Newfoundland, Canada, characterized by a heavy double coat, webbed paws, and excellent swimming ability.
"The lifeguard was accompanied by a massive Newfoundland that was specially trained to rescue people from the freezing water."
Word Nuance & Usage
Almost exclusively capitalized in standard English since it functions as a proper noun referring to the Canadian island, the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, or the recognized dog breed.
• Rhymes for newfoundland
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the late 15th century following the 1497 expedition of John Cabot, literally meaning 'newly found land' (translating the Latin 'Terra Nova'). The dog breed is named after the island where it originated.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.