ENGLISH
REFERENCE

dug

n.
US //ˈdəɡ// UK //dˈʌɡ// dug
  1. 1 animal mammary gland (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical

    the part of a female animal, like a pig or dog, that produces milk for its babies.

    a mammary gland or teat of a female domestic mammal, especially one with multiple breasts such as a sow or bitch.

    Example

    The farmer checked the sow's dugs to make sure she could feed the piglets.

    Example

    The veterinarian noted that the infection had spread to several of the animal's dugs, requiring immediate antibiotic treatment.
    • teat
    • udder
  2. 2 human breast (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Vulgar Slang

    a rude or very informal word for a woman's breast.

    a woman's breast or nipple. Used as a derogatory or highly informal term.

    Example

    He made a rude comment about the woman's dugs.

    Example

    The character in the old play used the word 'dugs' as a crude insult toward the barmaid.

    Teacher's tip

    This sense is highly offensive and dated; learners should avoid using it in any modern context.
Origin

From earlier dugge ("pap, teat"; compare also English dialectal ducky, dukky (“the female breast”)), apparently connected to Danish dægge (“to suckle”), Swedish dägga (“to suck”), Old English dēon (“to suckle”). More at doe. Compare also doug.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Last updated June 20, 2026