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

Goldendoodles, a cross between a golden retriever and a poodle, are popular for their affectionate nature, intelligence, and often hypoallergenic coats. —Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025

Suffice it to say that these characters, along with an intimidating poodle, end up together in a space that functions as a kind of black-box theater, one with Nazi associations. —Dwight Garner, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2025

The owner offered photos of Molly — a small poodle whose fur was dyed a bubblegum pink color — to the police, which shared the images to their Instagram Stories to prompt community aid in the search. —Moná Thomas, People.com, 6 Mar. 2025

Police are urging the owner of a pit bull that fatally attacked a mini poodle Friday evening in Santa Monica near Main and Strand streets to come forward. —Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2025

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

Rhymes for poodle

• boodle
• doodle
• feudal
• noodle

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.