houndish

English

Etymology

From Middle English houndisch, equivalent to hound +‎ -ish. Compare Dutch honds (“doglike”), German hündisch (“houndish; doglike”).

Adjective

houndish (comparative more houndish, superlative most houndish)

1. Like, pertaining to, or characteristic of a hound; doggish; canine.
   • 1897, Richard Wagner, Religion and art:

     This the "free" burgher of our Civilisation calls "houndish fidelity," with a contemptuous accent on the "hound."

   • 1994, Jack Lovejoy, Outworld Cats:

     [...] houndish face was anything but memorable, yet Verna felt certain she had seen it somewhere before. "Delfred! Delfred! Delfred! Woof! Woof! Woof!" continued the chant outside the garden wall.

   • 2008, Jeffrey Overstreet, Cyndere's Midnight:

     Long strings of yellow dangled from Jorn's houndish snout, and his eyes were red.

   • 2010, Gregory Maguire, Mirror Mirror:

     Lucrezia laughed, a houndish laugh, almost a baying.

Related terms

• houndly
• houndy