Coton de Tuléar
/kɔ.tɔ̃ də ty.le.aʁ/noun
A small Madagascan companion dog breed known for its soft, cotton-like coat.
Did you know?The breed developed in Madagascar, where it became associated with nobility and was sometimes called the “Royal Dog of Madagascar,” though its precise early history is partly undocumented.
Etymological Timeline
Latin Antiquity
Latin
cōtōneum
“Quince-like or cotton-related; the source of later Romance forms associated with cotton.”
Medieval Arabic
Arabic
quṭn
“Cotton; the Arabic trade word that entered several Mediterranean languages.”
12th–13th Century
Old French
coton
“Cotton, borrowed through Mediterranean trade networks.”
19th Century
French
Coton de Tuléar
“Literally “cotton of Tuléar,” describing the breed’s texture and its Madagascan regional association.”
Modern English
English
Coton de Tuléar
“The established name of a small companion-dog breed originating in Madagascar.”