bringsel

noun

bring·​sel
ˈbriŋzəl,
-ŋsəl
variants or brinsell
-inzəl,
-in(t)səl
or less commonly bringsal
-iŋzəl,
-iŋsəl
plural -s
: a short stick or other device that is suspended from the collar of a trained search dog and used as a signal that a search has been successful

Note: When the dog finds the object of its search, such as a wounded person, it takes the bringsel into its mouth and returns to its handler. The handler then follows the dog to the place where the object of the search was found.

Word History

Etymology

German bringsel, from bringen to bring, from Old High German bringan

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Cite this Entry

“Bringsel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bringsel. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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