beagle

[ bee-guhl ]

noun

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

beagle

/ 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

verb

1. intr to hunt with beagles, normally on foot

Word History and Origins

Origin of beagle¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of beagle¹

C15: of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

Thankfully, for both of us, my emotional support beagle, Scotty, runs in from the yard and gayly jumps on the sofa.

From Los Angeles Times

The new film will see the evil penguin seek revenge on inventor Wallace and his trusty and loyal beagle Gromit.

From BBC

“That’s some measure of accountability for the untold numbers of beagles who needlessly suffered and died.”

From Science Magazine

“I want to tell you this is disgusting and evil, what you signed off on, and these experiments that happened to beagles paid for by the American taxpayer,” she told Fauci.

From Salon

The federal government filed the suit against Envigo in May 2022, claiming that it had failed to humanely care for thousands of beagles at the facility.

From New York Times

Related Words

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