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hound (n.)

Old English hund "dog," from Proto-Germanic *hundaz (source also of Old Saxon and Old Frisian hund, Old High German hunt, German Hund, Old Norse hundr, Gothic hunds), from PIE *kwnto-, dental enlargement of root *kwon- "dog." Meaning narrowed 12c. to "dog used for hunting" (compare dog (n.)). Contemptuously, of a man, from late Old English.

hound (v.)

"hunt with hounds," 1520s, from hound (n.). Figurative sense "pursue relentlessly" first recorded c. 1600. Related: Hounded; hounding.

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Definitions of hound from WordNet
1
hound (n.)
any of several breeds of dog used for hunting typically having large drooping ears;
Synonyms: hound dog
hound (n.)
someone who is morally reprehensible;
Synonyms: cad / bounder / blackguard / dog / heel
2
hound (v.)
pursue or chase relentlessly;
the detectives hounded the suspect until they found him
Synonyms: hunt / trace
From wordnet.princeton.edu