wolf-hound

A hunter walks with his wolf-hound through the forest.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A large breed of dog bred for hunting wolves: "wolf-hound" refers to any of several large, powerful dog breeds originally developed to track and attack wolves.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The Irish wolf-hound is one of the tallest dog breeds in the world. (A large canine bred for wolf hunting.)
  • He owns a wolf-hound that is gentle but very protective. (A specific type of dog known for its size and hunting heritage.)

Advanced Usage

• "Wolf-hound" as a historical term: In medieval times, wolf-hounds were used to protect livestock from wolf packs.
  • The nobleman kept a pack of wolf-hounds to guard his estate. (Hunting dogs used for defence against wolves.)

Variants and Related Words

• Wolfhound (n): a common variant spelling without the hyphen.

  • The Scottish deerhound is sometimes called a wolfhound due to its size. (A large hunting dog.)

• Wolf-like (adj): resembling a wolf in appearance or behaviour.

  • The wolfhound has a wolf-like coat and stature. (Similar to a wolf.)

Synonyms

• Hunting dog: a dog trained for hunting.
• Sighthound: a type of dog that hunts primarily by sight and speed (some wolfhounds are sighthounds).

Related Idioms

• "To howl with the wolves": to join a group in doing something, often used in contrast to the independent nature of a wolf-hound.
  • He prefers to stand alone, not howl with the wolves. (Act independently, not follow the crowd.)

Notes on Usage

• "Wolf-hound" is typically used as a compound noun, referring to specific breeds like the Irish Wolfhound or Russian Wolfhound (Borzoi). It is not a general term for any dog that hunts wolves, but rather a breed classification.