devil dog

noun

, Informal.

1. a United States Marine.

Word History and Origins

Origin of devil dog¹

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

We did a devil dog, a black dog with red pompom ears and a red tail.

From New York Times

Across her general customer base, Hardy was revered for her world-famous devil dogs and petit fours.

From Washington Times

On Tuesday, Pennsylvania’s governor signed a law naming the hellbender — which is two feet long, nocturnal and also known as the devil dog, Allegheny alligator and lasagna lizard — the state’s official amphibian.

From New York Times

They are the largest North American amphibian, according to the Center for Biological Diversity, and their jarring appearance has inspired a colorful set of nicknames that also include devil dog, ground puppy and Allegheny alligator.

From Seattle Times

It is the island which has inspired tales of supernatural devil dogs and bodies buried without skulls.

From BBC