poodle

American  

[pood-l] / ˈpud l /

noun

1. one of a breed of notably intelligent dogs, having thick frizzy or curly hair usually trimmed in standard patterns, and occurring in three varieties (standard poodle, miniature poodle, andtoy poodle ) that differ in size.

   What I miss most about our old place are the six big poodles who live at the herb farm next door.

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poodle British  

/ ˈpuːdəl /

noun

1. a breed of dog, with varieties of different sizes, having curly hair, which is often clipped from ribs to tail for showing: originally bred to hunt waterfowl

2. a person who is servile; lackey

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Etymology

Origin of poodle

First recorded in 1770–75; from German Pudel, short for Pudelhund, equivalent to pudel(n) “to splash” + Hund “dog”; puddle, hound ¹

Compare meaning

How does poodle compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Bichon Frise vs. poodle

Example Sentences

Officers found the golden doodle/mini poodle tied to a baggage sizer at Harry Reid International Airport after being alerted by other travellers.

From BBC • Feb. 20, 2026

As a Californian, I’ve always connected with his storytelling, and this story of a cross-country road trip with his poodle brings the vast variety of American life into perspective.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025

The poodle had become timid and was reluctant to leave Lee's side.

From Barron's • Dec. 2, 2025

That Tarzana home, which Anderson has described to me as “chaotic,” usually is a place where Turner Classic Movies runs round the clock and his standard poodle brings him the print edition of the L.A.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 18, 2025

I was unique in my class, like a pink poodle.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey

Related Words

• beagle