dog tent

Compound of dog +‎ tent, for its resemblance to a kennel. Attested from the middle 19th century.

dog tent (plural dog tents)

1. (originally US, military slang, historical) A small shelter tent, especially a tent composed of two shelter-halves.
   • 1898, T.P. Conneff, “Campaigning with the 12th U.S. Infantry”, in The Holy Cross Purple, volume 7, page 72:

     The men now had their rifles and 100 rounds of ammunition, one blanket, one shelter-half (one-half a dog tent), one rubber poncho, one coffee-tin, one knife, fork, and spoon, one tin cooking-pan and cover, one canteen and haversack containing three day’s provisions

   • 1982, Dean Nelson, “‘Right Nice Little House[s]’: Impermanent Camp Architecture of the American Civil War”, in Perspectives in Vernacular Architecture, volume 1, →DOI, page 80:

     Under best circumstances, the shelter tent, also called a "dog" tent, afforded only minimal protection to its inhabitants

• pup tent