dachshund

noun

dachs·​hund ˈdäks-ˌhu̇nt How to pronounce dachshund (audio) -ˌhu̇nd How to pronounce dachshund (audio)
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

Illustration of dachshund

Examples of dachshund in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Every so often, labradoodles, cocker spaniels, retrievers, dachshunds and their owners trotted by the aperture of the shack’s open door. Susan Dominus, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2024 Miniature dachshunds, for instance, which are both small and long-nosed, had a median lifespan of 14 years, compared to just 9.8 years for French bulldogs, which are medium-sized dogs with flat noses. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Feb. 2024 That’s up there with Shiba Inus (14.6), papillons (14.5), miniature dachshunds and Italian greyhounds (14). Amanda Schupak, CNN, 3 Feb. 2024 Those with dachshunds and other short-legged breeds found the cone was too close to the ground and limited their pet’s movements. Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 26 Jan. 2024 In addition to his professional accomplishments, Rothman was a watch collector, food connoisseur, devoted family man and a lover of dogs, especially his dachshund of 18 years, Bubu, and his grand-dog Champ. Brent Lang, Variety, 29 Dec. 2023 Last week, one was spotted in Oakton, Va. More accurately, Peanut, a 6-year-old miniature dachshund, stepped on a 14-inch hammerhead worm. Kasha Patel, Washington Post, 22 July 2023 Despite expressing hesitation over having children, Hall and Macgregor share a dog, a black dachshund named Salamander. Lynsey Eidell, Peoplemag, 30 Dec. 2023 But other issues based on appearance also affect breeds like German shepherds and dachshunds. Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 15 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dachshund.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

German, from Dachs badger + Hund dog

First Known Use

1878, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dachshund was in 1878

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Cite this Entry

“Dachshund.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dachshund. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

dachshund

noun
: 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.

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