hound

/ˈhau̇nd/

Middle English, from Old English hund; akin to Old High German hunt dog, Latin canis, Greek kyōn

noun

  1. dog

  2. a dog of any of numerous hunting breeds including both scent hounds (such as the bloodhound and beagle) and sight hounds (such as the greyhound and Afghan hound)

  3. a mean or despicable person

verb

  1. to pursue with or as if with hounds

  2. to drive or affect by persistent harassing

bait badger heckle hector chivy hound mean to harass by efforts to break down. bait implies wanton cruelty or delight in persecuting a helpless victim. badger implies pestering so as to drive a person to confusion or frenzy.

noun

  1. any of various coarse plants (genus Cynoglossum, especially C. officinale) of the borage family having tongue-shaped leaves and reddish flowers