kennel

¹

[ ken-l ]

noun

1. a house or shelter for a dog or a cat.
2. Often ken·nels. an establishment where dogs or cats are bred, raised, trained, or boarded.
3. the hole or lair of an animal, especially a fox.
4. a wretched abode likened to a doghouse.
5. Rare. a pack of dogs, especially hunting dogs:

   He inherited his love of quail hunting from his father who'd gifted him a kennel of pointers.

verb (used with object)

, ken·neled, ken·nel·ing or (especially British) ken·nelled, ken·nel·ling.

1. to put into or keep in a kennel:

   to kennel a dog for a week.

verb (used without object)

, ken·neled, ken·nel·ing or (especially British) ken·nelled, ken·nel·ling.

1. to take shelter or lodge in a kennel.

kennel

²

[ ken-l ]

noun

1. an open drain or sewer; gutter.

kennel

¹

/ ˈkɛnəl /

noun

1. a hutlike shelter for a dog US namedoghouse
2. usually plural an establishment where dogs are bred, trained, boarded, etc
3. the lair of a fox or other animal
4. a ramshackle house; hovel
5. a pack of hounds

verb

1. to put or go into a kennel; keep or stay in a kennel

kennel

²

/ ˈkɛnəl /

noun

1. archaic.
   an open sewer or street gutter

Word History and Origins

Origin of kennel¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English kenel, from unattested Anglo-French kenil ( French chenil) from unattested Vulgar Latin canīle ( Latin can(is) “dog” + -īle suffix of place)

Origin of kennel²

First recorded in 1575–85; variant of earlier cannel, Middle English canel channel ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of kennel¹

C14: from Old French chenil, from Vulgar Latin canīle (unattested), from Latin canis dog

Origin of kennel²

C16: variant of cannel channel ¹

Example Sentences

Dog kennels and dog crates are categorized by the crate’s length and the weight of the dog they’re designed to contain.

From Popular-Science

Apparently these foxes were kept in dog kennels, which is improper, and weren’t fed or watered properly—by all accounts, the SibFox people were not licensed and were inexperienced at importing exotic animals.

From Popular-Science

The blood testing was done by a farm veterinarian out in Russia, though Mitch had to fabricate his own cage—he says a standard dog kennel isn’t up to the task of containing a fox.

From Popular-Science

Though pets are not permitted in the caves or cave buildings, Mammoth Cave Lodge runs a kennel for to house your pup when you go on a cave tour.

From Outside Online

Pets are not permitted in buildings, on shuttles, or in lodges, but Yosemite Hospitality runs a kennel service if you want to go off on a dirt trail or backpack overnight.

From Outside Online

The Humane Society is under attack by a PR firm that advises the American Kennel Association.

From The Daily Beast

The American Kennel Club maintains it is not a Berman customer.

From The Daily Beast

At Westminster Kennel Club, wire fox terrier Sky wins Best in Show.

From The Daily Beast

Brus, 7½, did not react well to other animals and had behavioral problems which meant he could not be sent to a kennel.

From The Daily Beast

The Puppy Bowl would be a good obvious choice, with the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show as a close second.

From The Daily Beast

Skilled physicians feign indifference to their calling that they may smack of the kennel and the hunting-field.

From Project Gutenberg

Frequently he brings his patient to his own kennel, and takes care of him until he either gets well or dies.

From Project Gutenberg

In the following extract, the 'kennel' means the city of Geneva; the 'puddle' its lake, and the 'wall' its rampart.

From Project Gutenberg

Kit could only think of a lost, homesick dog begging for the scent of the trail to his own kennel.

From Project Gutenberg

Reducing more and more that famishing dog-kennel of a Brandenburg into a fruitful arable field.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• enclosure