collie

noun

col·​lie ˈkä-lē How to pronounce collie (audio)
: any of a breed of large dogs developed in Scotland that occur in rough-coated and smooth-coated varieties and have erect ears and a long muzzle

Illustration of collie

Illustration of collie

Examples of collie in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web While the famous collie wasn't on hand to help, three fire departments banded together to save the 11-month-old canine. Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 4 Dec. 2023 One notable feature that presented itself in the registration process did catch my eye, however, possibly a legacy of the Rev. Larry D. Broadhead, the collie that had been ordained by The Missionaries of the New Truth. Rory Feehan, SPIN, 9 Nov. 2023 The border collie is later placed into the back of an NYPD vehicle and covered with a jacket as a makeshift blanket. Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 3 Nov. 2023 All proceeds will fund the veterinary care and fostering of TCCR collies and older collies in hospice. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at Lower Huron Metro Park, Tulip Tree Shelter, 40151 E. Huron River Drive in Belleville. Brendel Hightower, Detroit Free Press, 5 Aug. 2023 The first weekend of August in metro Detroit offers a gathering of collies and canine enthusiasts in Belleville; aviation spectacles in Oakland County; a collection of classic cars on display in Troy; a chance to sway to soulful Jazz along the Detroit River, and an art fair on Belle Isle. Brendel Hightower, Detroit Free Press, 5 Aug. 2023 Image There is concentration and then there is Peggy Beisel-McIlwaine, in her eighth time judging at Westminster, going over a group of collies. Desiree Rios, New York Times, 8 May 2023 For this study, the researchers selected dogs from two popular breeds, German shepherds and Border collies, and extracted DNA by swabbing the insides of their cheeks. Julie Hecht, Scientific American, 1 May 2017 Yes, sure enough, a collie. Chris Willman, Variety, 30 Oct. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'collie.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

probably from English dialect colly black

First Known Use

circa 1651, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of collie was circa 1651

Dictionary Entries Near collie

Cite this Entry

“Collie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/collie. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

collie

noun
col·​lie ˈkäl-ē How to pronounce collie (audio)
: any of a breed of large dogs developed in Scotland for herding sheep

More from Merriam-Webster on collie

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!