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

Despite its dachshund-like proportions and monstrous lump of an engine, the 2009 version of the roadster exhibits elegant road manners, with light steering and a ride that is downright luxurious when compared to hair-shirt roadsters like the lovable, but bone-rattling Morgan of the early 2000s. —Robert Ross, Robb Report, 26 Nov. 2025

Among other Velcro breeds are dachshunds. —Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025

That means kiddos can have a blast zipping around a dachshund riding toy and parents don’t mind having yet another kid toy in the house. —Melissa Locker, Time, 17 Nov. 2025

Nearly a week later, Scott and Kodi Allred, a couple traveling to visit their son at the University of Northern Colorado, saw the frightened black dachshund darting along the same stretch of road near Elk Mountain. —Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 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.