| 释义 |
dog's letter
[transl. L. litera canina, Persius.]
A name for the letter R, as resembling in sound the snarl of a dog.
[1592Shakes. Rom. & Jul. ii. iv. 223 Doth not Rosemarie and Romeo begin both with a letter?.. Both with an R... A mocker! that's the dogs name.] 1636B. Jonson Eng. Gram., R is the dog's letter, and hurreth in the sound, the tongue striking the inner palate, with a trembling about the teeth. a1670Hacket Abp. Williams i. (1692) 55 Whose pamphlet is perpetuus Rhotacismus, one snarling Dogs-letter all over. 1830Westm. Rev. XII. 356 There is only the difference of the dog's letter between friend and [fiend]. |