poodle

[pood-l]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR poodle ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

one of a breed of very active dogs, probably originating in Germany but regarded as the national dog of France, having long, thick, frizzy or curly hair usually trimmed in standard patterns, occurring in three varieties (standard, miniature, and toy) differing only in size, and originally used as a water retriever.

Origin of poodle

1815–25; < German Pudel, short for Pudelhund, equivalent to pudel(n) to splash (see puddle) + Hund hound¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for poodle

beagle, mongrel, canine, mutt, afghan, pointer, basset, dachshund, pooch, airedale, retriever, akita, bowwow

Examples from the Web for poodle

Contemporary Examples of poodle

And then there is Marissa; Annabelle says Marissa is like a poodle, “probably pink.”
The ‘Real Housewives’ Land in London
Tim Teeman
May 15, 2014
Darren Criss of Glee guest stars in the video as the angry bulldog boyfriend of the poodle.
From Katy Perry to Alice in Chains, the Best Music Videos of the Week
Victoria Kezra
September 7, 2013
“I am as far from a harasser as you could be,” she said in a phone call from her home, as her poodle mix barked in the background.
Archie Comics: Corporate Brawl Over-Sexual Harassment Charges
Nancy Hass
February 2, 2012
While Steinbeck journeyed with his loyal French poodle, Buzzell has only a 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente as a companion.
Great Weekend Reads
Malcolm Jones, Matt Gallagher, Saul Austerlitz, Sharon Steel
September 11, 2011
He insisted that far from being America's poodle on this, he was an enthusiastic collaborator with Mr. Bush.
Tony Blair, Outcast
Andrew Neil
February 1, 2010

Historical Examples of poodle

Mrs. Ranny asked with an enthusiasm hitherto reserved for her poodle.
Quin
Alice Hegan Rice
This trainer of bull-dogs was the submissive slave of a poodle.
Ten Tales
Franois Coppe
The poodle remained with him a day or two, and then made his escape.
Minnie's Pet Dog
Madeline Leslie
Nor is this a solitary instance of the extraordinary sagacity of the poodle.
Anecdotes of Dogs
Edward Jesse
The sagacity of the poodle is strongly shown by the following fact.
Anecdotes of Dogs
Edward Jesse

British Dictionary definitions for poodle

poodle

noun

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

a person who is servile; lackey

Word Origin for poodle

C19: from German Pudel, short for Pudelhund, from pudeln to splash + Hund dog; the dogs were formerly trained as water dogs; see puddle, hound 1

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

Word Origin and History for poodle

1808, from German Pudel, shortened form of Pudelhund "water dog," from Low German Pudel "puddle" (cf. pudeln "to splash;" see puddle (n.)) + German Hund "hound" (see hound (n.)). Probably so called because the dog was used to hunt water fowl. Figurative sense of "lackey" (chiefly British) is attested from 1907. Poodle-faker, British army slang for "ingratiating male," is from 1902, likely euphemistic.