foo dog
noun
ˈfü- 
variants or fu dog
often capitalized F
: a mythical lion-dog used as a decorative motif in Far Eastern art
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web McCain’s jewelry and some of the decorative pieces, including four foo dog silver boxes for $500. 
Washington Post, 21 Feb. 2021 The flying lions that serve as handles are also called foo dogs and represent guardian lions, figures that originated in China. oregonlive, 3 Apr. 2020 The finishing touch: a giant ceramic foo dog, because sometimes fun is function enough! Eddie Ross, House Beautiful, 23 May 2019 Two enormous leonine foo dogs face each other across a bench on a terrace. Beth Dunlop, ELLE Decor, 8 Feb. 2010 Mooncakes are traditionally given most auspiciously during Mid-Autumn Festival but can be found in some Chinese bakeries year-round; and the foo dogs are actually mythical guardian lions. Louisa Chu, chicagotribune.com, 24 Jan. 2018 The Fortune Cookies Against Humanity are $18.88 each, and a foo dogs box with two cakes is $8.88. Louisa Chu, chicagotribune.com, 24 Jan. 2018 See More
Washington Post, 21 Feb. 2021 The flying lions that serve as handles are also called foo dogs and represent guardian lions, figures that originated in China. oregonlive, 3 Apr. 2020 The finishing touch: a giant ceramic foo dog, because sometimes fun is function enough! Eddie Ross, House Beautiful, 23 May 2019 Two enormous leonine foo dogs face each other across a bench on a terrace. Beth Dunlop, ELLE Decor, 8 Feb. 2010 Mooncakes are traditionally given most auspiciously during Mid-Autumn Festival but can be found in some Chinese bakeries year-round; and the foo dogs are actually mythical guardian lions. Louisa Chu, chicagotribune.com, 24 Jan. 2018 The Fortune Cookies Against Humanity are $18.88 each, and a foo dogs box with two cakes is $8.88. Louisa Chu, chicagotribune.com, 24 Jan. 2018 See More Word History
Etymology
Chinese (Beijing) fó Buddha; from the use of such figures in ceramic or stone as guardians of Buddhist temples
First Known Use
1953, in the meaning defined above