beagle

American  

[bee-guhl] / ˈbi gəl /

noun

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

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beagle British  

/ ˈbiːɡəl /

noun

1. a small sturdy breed of hound, having a smooth dense coat usually of white, tan, and black; often used (esp formerly) for hunting hares

2. archaic a person who spies on others

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verb

1. (intr) to hunt with beagles, normally on foot

Etymology

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 ( bay ² ) + gueule mouth (of an animal); gullet

Example Sentences

The worst they’ve done is smell up the house after rolling around outside with a couple of dirty beagles.

From The Wall Street Journal

Any hound that got snappy with Bertha was promptly corrected, and the pack of yowling beagles provided a noisy but festive escort back to the POE.

From Literature

Proof of that is in the presence of Meghan’s beloved beagle Guy, still loafing in the corner as our host roasts chicken and throws together caramelized onion tarts.

From Salon

And obviously, Folds knows that a show that stars a beagle and a small yellow bird that defies classification is not the right place to get bogged down in the issues of the day.

From Los Angeles Times

I took my beagle Philly to Rosie’s Dog Beach in Long Beach and watched him race around like the happiest hound in the world.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• detective
• gumshoe
• private eye
• private investigator
• sleuth