big dog n. a large bill for services rendered. Editorial Note: Pure speculation, but consider big dog ‘big-bug, big shot’ (HDAS [1833], 1843), as well as dog ‘a bond or promissory note’ (HDAS 1833) and ‘a gambling marker’ (HDAS 1967). (source:...
mahoff n. a person of importance; a big shot. Editorial Note: This term is said to have an association with Philadelphia. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)