poodle

noun

poo·​dle ˈpü-dᵊl 

1

: any of a breed of intelligent dogs that have a curly dense solid-colored coat and that are grouped into standard, miniature, and toy sizes which are often considered separate breeds compare toy poodle

2

: a fabric with a nubby or coarsely looped surface that resembles a poodle's coat

called also poodle cloth

Examples of poodle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The last miniature poodle to take the trophy was Spice, with Hosaka, in 2002. —TIME, 15 May 2024

Thirty-three other breeds have won Best in Show, including several poodle breeds, several English springer spaniels and a bloodhound for the first time in 2022 competition. —Karina Zaiets, USA TODAY, 15 May 2024

The 148th edition of the dog world’s signature contest was won by Sage, a miniature poodle from Texas. —David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 15 May 2024

In a tent reserved for grooming, a Lhasa apso was carefully flat-ironed while several miniature poodles were sculpted into sudsy topiaries. —Callie Holtermann, New York Times, 13 May 2024

The hair must weigh at least as much as a small poodle. —Leah Prinzivalli, Allure, 6 May 2024

And yet none of this could compete with the presence of a white show poodle named Josephine. —Amanda Fortini, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024

Among its celebrity and royal guests were the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Bob Hope and Elizabeth Taylor, who paid extra for her poodle. —Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024

Earlier this month, Brown appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon alongside her 3-year-old poodle Winnie. —Gabrielle Rockson, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

German Pudel, short for Pudelhund, from pudeln to splash + Hund dog

First Known Use

1773, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing poodle

• toy poodle

Kids Definition

poodle

noun

poo·​dle ˈpüd-ᵊl 

: any of a breed of active intelligent dogs that have thick curly coats of solid color and that occur in three sizes

Etymology

from German Pudel, a shortened form of Pudelhund "poodle," from pudeln "to splash" and Hund "dog"

Word Origin

Poodles often have their coats cut in different patterns. Both their haircuts and their name go back to a time when poodles were kept not as house pets but as retrievers. Poodles were especially good at retrieving game in the water. The dogs were good swimmers, and they had heavy coats that kept them warm even in icy water. Hunters cut their dogs' hair shorter in a pattern that would make swimming easier. Cutting poodles' hair in a pattern soon became a tradition. The German name for this skillful swimmer was Pudelhund. This word combined pudeln, meaning "to splash," and hund, meaning "dog." It was then shortened to Pudel, which English borrowed as poodle.