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beagle

 - 3 dictionary results

bea⋅gle

[bee-guhl]
–noun
one of a breed of small hounds having long ears, short legs, and a usually black, tan, and white coat.

Origin:
1490–1500; perh. < MF beegueule one who whines insistently, equiv. to bee, 3d pers. sing. of beer to be open, gape (by-form of bayer (see bay 2 ) + gueule mouth (of an animal); see gullet
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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bea·gle   (bē'gəl)   
n.  One of a breed of small hounds having short legs, drooping ears, and a smooth coat with white, black, and tan markings.

[Middle English begle, possibly from Old French bee gueule, loudmouth : beer, to gape (variant of baer; see bay2) + gueule, gullet (from Latin gula).]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

beagle 
c.1475, possibly from O.Fr. becguele "noisy person," lit. "gaping throat," from bayer "open wide" (see bay (2)) + gueule "mouth."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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