Shih Tzu

Meanings

1. A small dog breed which originated in China; a dog of that breed.

1. Alternative letter-case form of Shih Tzu.

Etymology

From the Wade–Giles romanisation shih¹-tzŭ⁵ of Mandarin 獅子 /狮子 (shīzi, “lion”), a contraction of 獅子狗 /狮子狗 (shīzigǒu, literally “lion dog”), from the breed's resemblance to Chinese guardian lion statues. The original Mandarin word now refers only to the Pekingese, while this breed now properly goes by the name 西施犬 (xīshīquǎn, literally “Xi Shi dog”).