Definition

Noun: 1. A breed of sled dog developed in Alaska: A malamute is a large, powerful dog of a specific breed originally bred by the Mahlemut people of Alaska for hauling heavy freight as sled dogs and for hunting. They are known for their strength, endurance, and thick, dense coat.

Usage

The word "malamute" is used as a countable noun to refer to an individual dog of this breed or to the breed as a whole. It is typically preceded by an article like "a" or "the," or used in the plural form.

Examples

• The malamute pulled the heavy sled through the deep snow with ease.
• We are considering getting an Alaskan malamute as a family pet.
• Malamutes are often confused with Siberian Huskies, but they are generally larger and more powerful.
• The strength of the malamute was crucial for Arctic exploration.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used attributively (like an adjective) to describe things related to the breed.
  • She has extensive malamute breeding experience.
  • The malamute rescue organization found homes for ten dogs.

Variants and Related Words

• Alaskan Malamute: The full, formal name of the breed. This is often used interchangeably with "malamute."
• Mahlemut: The name of the Inuit tribe from which the breed originated and from which its name is derived.

Synonyms

• Sled dog: A general term for any dog used to pull sleds. (Note: This is a broader category; not all sled dogs are malamutes.)
• Freight dog: A historical term for dogs bred to pull heavy loads, which describes the malamute's original purpose.

Notes

• The word is almost exclusively used to refer to this specific breed of dog. It does not commonly appear in idioms or phrasal verbs.
• The breed is named after the Mahlemut (or Malemiut) people, an Inuit tribe from the Norton Sound region of Alaska.

Noun

1. breed of sled dog developed in Alaska