A hunting dog bred and trained specifically to track, hunt, and tree raccoons, usually a medium to large dog with keen scenting ability.
From coon (raccoon) combined with hound, describing the dog's purpose. This compound noun reflects American frontier hunting culture and the selective breeding of dogs for specialized hunting tasks.
Coonhounds represent one of America's most distinctive dog breeds—they were specifically developed by frontier hunters to hunt at night when raccoons are active, and they have a distinctive baying call used to alert hunters.
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