What does schnauzer mean?
A schnauzer is a distinctive German dog breed with a wiry coat, prominent eyebrows, and a beard-like arrangement of facial hair. The breed occurs in three principal size varieties: miniature, standard, and giant. In a second, less common sense, “schnauzer” means a beard or moustache resembling the whiskers around a schnauzer's muzzle, especially in a conspicuously full or theatrical style. The word has become familiar through the breed's appearance in dog shows, homes, and popular culture. It is also an apt term for facial hair that is thick, sharply outlined, and deliberately groomed. Although the breed itself is German, “schnauzer” is now standard in both British and American English, where it commonly refers to the dog rather than the facial-hair sense.
A dog of a German breed with a wiry coat, pronounced eyebrows, and beard-like facial hair; it comes in miniature, standard, and giant sizes.
"Their black miniature schnauzer answered to the name Bruno."
Each of miniature schnauzer, standard schnauzer, and giant schnauzer denotes a recognized size variety of the breed.
A beard or moustache resembling the facial whiskers of a schnauzer.
"The portraitist gave his subject a broad grey schnauzer."
This sense is less common than the reference to the dog breed and is chiefly literary or descriptive.
The regular plural refers to individual dogs of the breed.
"Two schnauzers waited beside their owner on the station platform."
A schnauzer is named for the distinctive facial hair that gives the breed its unmistakable silhouette.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does schnauzer come from?
The English word comes from German Schnauzer, a name associated with schnauzen, meaning “to snarl” or “to snout,” and with Schnauze, meaning “snout” or “muzzle.” The term first became established in English for the dog breed in the 19th century and was later extended to describe beard-like facial hair.
How schnauzer is actually used
When referring to the dog, the term is normally capitalized only at the beginning of a sentence. The sense meaning facial hair is less common and literary.