Beagle
/ˈbiːɡəl/noun
A small hound breed originally developed for hunting rabbits and hares.
Did you know?The word’s early history is uncertain, but it appears in Middle English as a term for a small hound, and its exact origin remains debated by historical linguists.
Etymological Timeline
14th Century
Middle English
beagle
“a small hound, especially one used for hunting by scent”
14th–15th Century
Middle English
begle / begle
“attested variant spellings for a small hound”
Uncertain (possibly Old French or Celtic)
Uncertain
?
“the deeper source is not securely established”
Modern English
English
beagle
“a breed of small hound”