poodle
/ˈpuːd(ə)l
/noun
1A dog of a breed (of which there are several varieties) with a curly coat that is often ornamentally clipped. Poodle breeds are classified by size: see standard poodle, miniature poodle, toy poodle.The dogs included shih-tzus, dachshunds, Lhasa apsos, bearded collies, corgis, chihuahuas, poodles, Pekinese and Yorkshire terriers....
- We don't want our nation overrun by a host of poodles, corgis or pit bull terriers.
- Make room for doodles, the latest designer dogs - a mix of a poodle with another breed.
2British A person or organization who is overly willing to obey another: the council is being made a poodle of central government...
- It is well known that the US government - like that of her British poodle - favour universities as a method of recruiting spies.
- The clean, dry perfumes of newsprint, ink and decent analysis are replaced by the whiff of political poodles marking their territories.
- Blair, content with a kennel full of poodles in the Commons, will never allow such a thing.
verb [no object, with adverbial of direction] British informal
Move or travel in a leisurely manner: the chap who just wants to poodle along the road at 50 mph...
- And now I'm just poodling around until the dance tonight.
- Spent the day sleeping, reading comics, forgetting I'd read them, and poodling around on the computer.
- Even now, with the incredibly busy life I lead, if I get time between appointments I will just go and poodle.
Origin
Early 19th century: from German Pudel(hund), from Low German pud(d)eln 'splash in water' (the poodle being a water-dog).