Definition

1. Noun:
   • A type of hunting dog: A "coonhound" is any of several specific breeds of dog that have been selectively bred and developed for the primary purpose of hunting raccoons. These dogs are known for their keen sense of smell, endurance, and distinctive baying bark.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The hunter relied on his trusty coonhound to track the raccoon through the dense woods.
  • She decided to adopt a rescued coonhound from the animal shelter.
  • The Black and Tan Coonhound is one of the most well-known breeds of coonhound.

Advanced Usage

• "To work like a coonhound": To pursue something with great determination and focus, similar to how the dog tracks its quarry.
  • He worked like a coonhound on that research project until he found the answer.

Variants and Related Words

• Hound: A general term for a type of dog used for hunting, often by scent. A coonhound is a specific type of hound.
• Breeds: Specific types of coonhounds include the Black and Tan Coonhound, Bluetick Coonhound, Redbone Coonhound, Treeing Walker Coonhound, Plott Hound, and American English Coonhound.

Synonyms

• Raccoon dog: (Note: This can be ambiguous as it also refers to the tanuki, a different animal. "Coonhound" is the precise term.)
• Raccoon hound: A less common, descriptive synonym.

Related Phrases

• To tree a coon: A hunting phrase meaning for the dog to chase a raccoon up a tree and then bark to signal its location to the hunter. This is the primary task of a coonhound.
  • It didn't take long for the experienced coonhound to tree the coon.

Noun

1. any of several breeds of hound developed for hunting raccoons