Dog Names Meaning Thin

Down through the centuries, true stories, as well as legends, are fraught with unusual, if not sometimes impossible to believe, references to canine actions and behaviors that challenge our imaginations.   The “impossible to believe” category refers to the many cultural, mythical legends passed down through the generations through word of mouth as well as written word.  Our pop culture spotlight for today is Cabal.  

The name “Cabal” (sometimes called Cavall), sometimes interpreted as “King Arthur’s Dog,” and our spotlight certainly was that, and a huge one as well!  But the theme of Dog Names Meaning Thin has, as one of its synonyms, the word “small,” and the more modern meaning of the name Cabal is “a small secret group of people” usually united on common ground. Additionally, one of the synonyms of thin (narrow) is “exclusive,” and this word indeed describes a Cabal group exposure.

As the legend goes, Cabal was called King Arthur’s favorite dog, and though Cabal’s specific breed was not noted, Arthurian scholars have studied the information available. They have determined that the dog was likely a molossus breed, like the heritage in the mastiff-like breeds, Great Danes, Rottweilers, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Saint Bernards and the like. The scholars also refer to qualities like great sense of smell and direction, and intuition - all of which are well-known traits in the mastiff-like breeds mentioned above.  But, these traits, also found in many hound and hunting breeds (both sight and scent hunters), really don’t help much to identify Cabal’s heritage.   

Why was Cabal an animal of legend?  Cabal is said to have aided King Arthur in the demise of the legendary wild boar, Twrch Trwyth (try pronouncing THAT one), considered a supernatural wild boar.  The legend gets murky in places because of the variety of meanings of Cabal (Cavall) down through the ages, sometimes taking on the definition of “horse,” or the Southern French or Catalan nickname of “rich.”   Arthurian lore maintains that, in the pursuit and hunt for the wild boar, Cabal left his footprint in a rock, presumably preserved.  It is an interesting legend that winds its way through quite a maze in the midst of being told in the various Gaelic languages, but, in none of the interpretations of the legend are we told of Cabal’s role in the bringing down of the superhuman foe.