bloodhound
Americannoun
-
one of a breed of medium- to large-sized dogs, usually having a black-and-tan coat, very long ears, loose skin, and an acute sense of smell: used chiefly for following human scents.
-
a person who is a steadfast pursuer.
noun
-
a large breed of hound having a smooth glossy coat of red, tan, or black and loose wrinkled skin on its head: formerly much used in tracking and police work
-
informal a detective
Etymology
Origin of bloodhound
First recorded in 1300–50, bloodhound is from the Middle English word blod-hound. See blood, hound 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That includes drag hunting - which uses a fixed course for the hounds to follow - and clean‑boot hunting, where bloodhounds chase the scent of runners they mingle with before they set off.
From BBC
“We ran as fast as we could, but a bloodhound caught our trail and started barking. Right away Jemma knew that hound dog. And she raced ahead to catch up with your daddy. ‘
From Literature
Bruno, a seven-year-old bloodhound, had been hailed as a hero for finding nine missing people during his career, and was once honoured by Italy's prime minister.
From BBC
A Southern California couple who lost their French bulldog have gone to great lengths over the last two months to find the pooch, resorting to bloodhounds, animal psychics, cash rewards and door-to-door canvasing.
From Los Angeles Times
Then spontaneously one Christmas, while his partner was away visiting family, he went out and bought a pack of bloodhounds.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
