beagle

[ bee-guhl ]
/ ˈbi gəl /
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noun

one of a breed of small hounds having long ears, short legs, and a usually black, tan, and white coat.

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Origin of beagle

1490–1500; perhaps <Middle French beegueule one who whines insistently, equivalent to bee, 3rd person singular of beer to be open, gape (by-form of bayer (see bay2) + gueule mouth (of an animal); see gullet

Words nearby beagle

bead tree, beadwork, beady, beady eye, beady-eyed, beagle, Beaglehole, beagling, beak, beaked pelvis, beaked whale
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to beagle

detective, private eye, gumshoe, sleuth, mongrel, canine, mutt, afghan, pointer, basset, poodle, dachshund, pooch, airedale, retriever, eye, inspector, investigator, operative, dick

Example sentences from the Web for beagle

British Dictionary definitions for beagle

beagle
/ (ˈbiːɡəl) /

noun

a small sturdy breed of hound, having a smooth dense coat usually of white, tan, and black; often used (esp formerly) for hunting hares
archaic a person who spies on others

verb

(intr) to hunt with beagles, normally on foot

Word Origin for beagle

C15: of uncertain origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012