Samoyed

[ sam-uh-yed, suh-moi-id ]

noun

1. a member of a Uralic people dwelling in W Siberia and the far NE parts of European Russia.
2. Also a subfamily of Uralic languages spoken by the Samoyed people.
3. (sometimes lowercase) one of a Russian breed of medium-sized dogs that have long, dense, white or cream hair and are used by the Samoyed people for herding reindeer and pulling sleds.

Samoyed

/ ˌsæməˈjɛd /

noun

1. -yed-yeds a member of a group of peoples who migrated along the Russian Arctic coast and now live chiefly in the area of the N Urals: related to the Finns
2. the languages of these peoples, related to Finno-Ugric within the Uralic family
3. səˈmɔɪɛd a Siberian breed of dog of the spitz type, having a dense white or cream coat with a distinct ruff, and a tightly curled tail

Derived Forms

• ˌSamoˈyedic, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Samoyed¹

First recorded in 1580–90, Samoyed is from the Russian word samoyéd

Word History and Origins

Origin of Samoyed¹

C17: from Russian Samoed

Example Sentences

Striker the Samoyed stole the show at last year’s Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, only to lose in the final round.

From New York Times

“He never has a bad day”: The Times’s Sarah Lyall visited Striker, a Samoyed who was a crowd favorite at last year’s show.

From New York Times

Striker, a blindingly white Samoyed, will never know that he did not take the top spot in last year’s Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

From New York Times

Trumpet beat a French bulldog, a German shepherd, a Maltese, an English setter, a Samoyed and a Lakeland terrier to take the trophy in the 146th Westminster.

From Washington Times

Hopefuls include Striker, a Samoyed that made it to the finals at Westminster last year and won his breed again on Wednesday morning.

From Seattle Times