bloodhound
UK[ˈblʌdhaʊnd]US[ˈblʌdhaʊnd]
n
a large breed of dog with a very keen sense of smell, used especially for tracking people or animals.
Morpheme Breakdown
blood
hound
blood
hound
Etymology
the word 'bloodhound' is a transparent compound from old english, where 'blood' referred literally to blood and 'hound' meant a dog, particularly one used for hunting. the name's logic is debated; it may refer to the dog's ancient lineage as a 'pure-blooded' hound, its traditional use in tracking wounded prey by its blood trail, or the idea of a hound of noble or pure blood. over centuries, the term solidified to specifically denote this keen-scented breed, emphasizing its specialized tracking ability rather than a literal connection to blood.
Analysis
Structure: blood + hound
blood (old english, literal meaning: blood); hound (old english, literal meaning: dog, hunting dog)
Examples
the police used a bloodhound to follow the suspect's scent through the woods.
bloodhounds are known for their incredible stamina and determination on a trail.
the lost child was found safe thanks to the work of a skilled bloodhound.