brown dog tick

noun

: a widely distributed reddish-brown tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) that occurs chiefly on dogs and transmits several diseases (such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and canine babesiosis and ehrlichiosis)

Examples of brown dog tick in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Here in the dry desert, among the saguaro cactuses and tumbleweeds, investigators found a different culprit: Rhipicephalus sanguineus, commonly known as the brown dog tick, a species that thrives on the reservation. Pien Huang, NPR, 15 Jan. 2025 Mexico also sees several cases where brown dog ticks are prevalent. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1907, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of brown dog tick was in 1907

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Cite this Entry

“Brown dog tick.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brown%20dog%20tick. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.

Medical Definition

brown dog tick

noun
: a widely distributed reddish-brown tick of the genus Rhipicephalus (R. sanguineus) that occurs chiefly on dogs and transmits several diseases (as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and canine babesiosis and ehrlichiosis)
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