A large hunting dog of medieval Europe, typically a mastiff or similar powerful breed used for hunting big game and guarding estates.
From Old French 'alaunt,' possibly derived from Turkic or Caucasian languages, ultimately connected to the Alans. Medieval crusaders and traders brought these dogs westward from Central Asia.
Alaunts were the medieval warrior dogs—so prized that they were traded as royal gifts and appear on coats of arms! Their breeding influenced modern mastiffs and other large guard dog breeds we have today.
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