E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Dogs (a military term).
The 17th Lancers or Duke of Cambridge’s Own Lancers. The crest of this famous cavalry regiment is a Death’s Head and Cross-bones, OR GLORY, whence the acrostic Death Or Glory (D.O.G.).
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The Spartan injunction, when the young soldier was presented with his shield, was, “With this, or On this,” which meant the same thing.
