An archaic or dialectal term for a dog of hunting breed, particularly a mastiff or large dog used for hunting or guarding in medieval times.
From Middle English and Old French 'alaunt,' which may derive from a Caucasian or Central Asian origin, possibly related to the region of the Alans. The term reflects trade in war dogs across medieval Europe.
Medieval nobility treasured alaunds as hunting companions—they were like the sports cars of the dog world! These powerful dogs could take down wild boar and were so valuable they appear in heraldry and literature.
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