beagle
(ˈbiːg(ə)l)
Forms: 5–6 begle, 6 begele, 6– beagle.
[Derivation obscure. The F. bigle is recognized as borrowed from Eng. The word can scarcely be of OE. origin, because of the hard g; in this position the g could not have escaped becoming palatalized. Possibly it is from F. bégueule, f. béer to gape, open wide + gueule throat. The OF. beegueulle, according to Godefroy, meant a noisy shouting person (crialleur); ‘open throat,’ in this sense, might be an epithet applied to a dog, though there is no evidence that it was so used in Fr.]
1. A small variety of hound, tracking by scent, formerly used in hunting hares, but now superseded by the Harrier, which sometimes takes its name.
| ? c 1475 Sqr. lowe Degre 771 With theyr begles in that place, And sevenscore raches at his rechase. 1548 Hall Chron. Hen. VI, an. 27 (R.) The Frenchmen stil like good begeles following their prey. 1631 Quarles Samson Wks. (1717) 406 Quick-scented Beagles. 1704 Pope Windsor For. i. 121 To plains with well-bred beagles we repair, And trace the mazes of the circling hare. 1862 Huxley Lect. Wrkg. Men 110 A physiological peculiarity.. enables the Beagle to track its prey by the scent. |
2. fig. One who makes it his business to scent out or hunt down; a spy or informer; a constable, sheriff's officer, bailiff.
| 1559 Myrr. Mag., Jack Cade xix. 2 That restles begle sought and found me out. 1570 B. Googe Pop. Kingd. ii. (1880) 17 Such preetie Begles haue these Bishops..That hunt out Prebendes fatte for them. a 1618 Raleigh Maxims St. (1644) 45 To have their Beagles, or listner in every corner..of the Realm. a 1640 Day Peregr. Schol. (1881) A brace of beagles in blew. 1837 Carlyle Fr. Rev. III. vii. v. 377 Attorneys and Law-beagles, which hunt ravenous on this Earth. |
3. attrib., as in beagle-chase, beagle-dog, beagle-hound.
| 1552 Huloet, Begle hounde, catellus. 1706 Lond. Gaz. No. 4223/4 A Beagle-Dog..with..Liver-coloured Spots upon his Ears. 1858 Carlyle Fredk. Gt. I. iv. viii. 471 Hot Beagle-chase, hot Stag-hunt, your chief game deer. |