pekingese
/ˌpiː.kɪˈniːz/
Chinese Origin
General
Original Word
北京
Mandarin (Běijīng)
Entered English
19th century
First recorded usage in English
The Story Behind "pekingese"
From Mandarin 'Běijīng' (北京), the capital of China. In English, 'Pekingese' refers to a small dog breed that was sacred in the Chinese imperial court. The older Wade-Giles spelling 'Peking' gave the breed its English name.
Example Usage
"The pekingese sat regally on the silk cushion, just as its ancestors did in the imperial palace."