dachshund

noun

dachs·​hund ˈdäks-ˌhu̇nt  -ˌhu̇nd 

ˈdäk-sənt;

 especially British  ˈdak-sənd

: any of a breed of long-bodied, short-legged dogs of German origin that occur in short-haired, long-haired, and wirehaired varieties

Illustration of dachshund

Examples of dachshund in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Another girl talked about using her car charger to walk her mini dachshund. —Jordan Greene, People.com, 4 Feb. 2025

On your way, check out the nearby yard full of Christmas dachshunds on Magnolia Drive. —Erin Alberty, Axios, 16 Dec. 2024

Among the 201 eligible breeds, dachshunds lead the way with 52 representatives, followed by poodles (44), French bulldogs (40), chihuahuas (39) and golden retrievers (38). —Jorge L. Ortiz, USA TODAY, 12 Feb. 2025

Breeds in the hound group include bloodhounds, dachshunds, and greyhounds. —Ryan Canfield, Fox News, 7 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

German, from Dachs badger + Hund dog

First Known Use

1878, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

dachshund

noun

dachs·​hund ˈdäks-ˌhu̇nt  ˈdäk-sənt 

: any of a breed of dogs of German origin with a long body, very short legs, and long drooping ears

Etymology

from German Dachshund "dachshund," literally, "badger dog," from Dachs "badger" and Hund dog

Word Origin

The dachshund is a dog with short legs and a long history. The breed was developed in Germany more than a thousand years ago to hunt burrowing animals such as badgers. With its short legs and long, powerful body, the dachshund could follow a badger right down into its hole. It could even fight with the badger underground. The German name for the breed was Dachshund, a compound of Dachs, meaning "badger," and Hund, "dog." This German name was borrowed directly into English.