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toy poodle

toy poodle

1 2.8
A very small dog with curly hair kept as a pet that does not shed much
  • noun
  • /tɔɪ ˈpuːdəl/
translation icon : poodle toy
  • Ever curious, Nancy reached out toward Roderick, wanting a better look at the bloodied Girl Scout cookie, just as Sweet Pea, her slightly crazy toy poodle/greyhound mix, jumped at Roderick and grabbed the cookie.
  • toy poodle on a leash

His name is Scuttle, he's a toy poodle and he is the sweetest dog in the world.

Examples

  • His name is Scuttle, he's a toy poodle and he is the sweetest dog in the world.

  • "For Valentine's, see, Bobby gave her, of all the choices, p135 this little, yappy, black-as-a-bat toy poodle.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • We got a young toy poodle at the moment.

  • Big and hard, are they, or suitable to satisfy a toy poodle?

    Fiction book (1995)
  • The gentleman is walking a toy poodle on a leash.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • A Great Dane and a toy poodle are both dogs, but they have very different characteristics.

    Blog text (10)
  • Basel's her toy poodle.

  • It was one of those inbred, over-groomed toy poodles that you want to drop-kick into the next universe.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • While poodles were used as retrievers, it's also true that "France had toy poodles as pampered favorites" in that time period.

    Blog text (18)
  • My neighbor has a toy poodle that loves to play fetch in the yard.

Synonyms

poodle
vstoy poodle
85 1.0

A smart dog with dense curly fur often kept as a pet or shown at dog shows

is the specific tiny companion variety valued for small size and hypoallergenic fur
pooch
vstoy poodle
  • Informal
49 7.7

A small friendly dog kept as a pet

refers to a precise small companion breed rather than a casual name
toy
vstoy poodle
46 4.2

A very small dog kept mainly as a pet

is a specific small poodle type prized for intelligence and hypoallergenic coat
toy dog
vstoy poodle
1 3.2

A very small dog that people breed and keep as a pet in homes

is a particular poodle form within that pet breed group, more specific
miniature poodle
vstoy poodle
1 2.6

A small dog with a curly coat and a smart, alert nature often kept as a pet

is a tinier companion form prized for hypoallergenic coat and friendliness

How Big

toy poodle
1 2.8

Surface Forms

toy poodle singular
toy poodles plural

Morphology

toy + poodle

The phrase denotes a small subtype of poodle composed transparently from 'toy' (small/companion) + 'poodle' (dog breed); the overall meaning 'a very small poodle' follows directly from the constituents. This size-class + noun pattern is common in English and other languages, so a B1 learner who knows both words will reliably infer the meaning.

Etymology

Toy poodle comes from the word toy, meaning very small, and poodle, a dog breed once used to work in water. Breeders made tiny versions to be kept as a 'pet', so the name now means a very small poodle kept as a 'pet'.