Definition of "poodle" []

• Any of a breed of dogs originally developed in Europe as hunting dogs, having thick curly hair of varying color, and classified by shoulder height into standard, miniature, and toy varieties. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "In fact the name poodle comes from the German word Pudel, which is short for Pudelhund, or splashing dog."
• "The health care policy I have on my poodle is a better policy than what they are proposing for Americans."
• "But Lisa Peterson of the Kennel Club says a poodle is an ideal family pet."