prick-eared

A small dog with prick-eared alertness sits by the window.

Definition

Adjective: - Having ears that are pointed and erect: "prick-eared" describes an animal, especially a dog or other mammal, whose ears stand upright and are pointed at the tips, rather than being floppy or drooping. This trait is often associated with alertness or a specific breed characteristic.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The wolf was a prick-eared creature, its ears sharply pointed and constantly scanning the forest for sounds. (The wolf's ears were erect and pointed, showing its alertness.)
  • She adopted a prick-eared terrier from the shelter, noting its attentive, upright ears. (The dog had ears that stood up and were pointed.)

Advanced Usage

• "prick-eared" as a descriptive term in animal breeding: Used to classify dogs or other animals based on ear shape, often contrasting with "drop-eared" or "lop-eared" breeds.
  • In the breed standard for German Shepherds, the prick-eared trait is highly valued for its classic, alert appearance. (The ears are erect and pointed, meeting breed criteria.)

Variants and Related Words

• Prick (verb/noun): to make a small hole or to stand upright (as in "prick up one's ears").
  • The dog pricked up its ears at the sound of a squirrel. (The dog made its ears erect and attentive.)
• Prick-earedness (noun, rare): the quality of having prick ears.
  • The breed's prick-earedness is a key feature for judges. (The state of having erect, pointed ears.)

Synonyms

• Erect-eared: having ears that stand upright.
• Pointed-eared: having ears with sharp, tapering tips.
• Alert-eared: having ears that suggest watchfulness or readiness.

Related Idioms

• Prick up one's ears: to suddenly pay close attention to something, often by making one's ears erect (used metaphorically for humans).
  • When he heard his name mentioned, he pricked up his ears. (He became suddenly attentive.)

Additional Notes

• The word is primarily used in contexts of animal anatomy, especially in dog breeds (e.g., huskies, German Shepherds, corgis when naturally prick-eared) or in descriptions of wild animals like foxes or wolves. It is less common in everyday speech and is mostly technical or descriptive.