Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A stylized figure of a lion, traditionally placed as a symbolic guardian at the entrance to a Chinese temple or other building.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A Chinese guardian dog / lion statue that traditionally stands in front of Chinese imperial palaces, emperors' tombs, and government offices.
  • noun A Pekingese dog.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Perhaps from Mandarin , Buddha (from Middle Chinese fɦut, Buddha, from late Old Chinese *but, Buddha, from Sanskrit buddhaḥ, Buddha; see Buddha) or from Mandarin , good fortune (from Middle Chinese fuwk), dog (from the stylized lion's doglike appearance ).]

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