What does wirehaired mean?
Wirehaired means having hair or a coat that is wiry, coarse, stiff, or springy rather than soft or smooth. It is most often used for dogs, including several terriers and the wirehaired variety of dachshund, whose close-textured coats are a notable breed characteristic. The word may also describe a person with short, wiry hair, but that use is uncommon. In general contexts it is neutral and descriptive, though it can evoke the sturdy, practical appearance of hunting breeds. The expression works well when texture matters: a wirehaired coat is distinct from either fluffy fur or sleek, silky hair. Wirehaired should not be confused with wiry, which can describe any thin, tough, springy thing rather than hair specifically. It is a precise and useful term for identifying the characteristic texture of certain animal coats.
adjectiveHaving hair that is wiry, coarse, stiff, or springy; especially used of dogs whose dense coats have a harsh texture.
- Having hair or a coat that is wiry, coarse, stiff, or springy, especially in a hunting or terrier breed.
- Describing a person with short, wiry hair, though this use is much less common than the dog-related sense.
"The kennel was renowned for its sturdy, wirehaired fox terriers."
"The judge examined the wirehaired dachshund before the judging began."
"Her uncle, famous for his broad face and wirehaired eyebrows, looked like an Old World professor."
Forget electricity: wirehaired describes hair with the coarse, springy feel of fine wire.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of wirehaired
Wirehaired is an English compound formed from “wire” and “hair” with adjectival ending “-ed.” The term became well established in the nineteenth century in names for hunting and terrier breeds distinguished by their coarse coats. Its related forms “wiry” and “hairy” preserve the same two central elements, “wire” and “hair.”
How wirehaired is actually used
The term is chiefly descriptive and is especially common in dog-breed terminology. Both “wirehaired” and “wire-haired” are accepted, although the hyphenated form remains particularly familiar in breed names.
Easily confused with wirehaired
Wirehaired specifies hair or a coat that feels coarse and springy, whereas wiry describes something thin, tough, or flexible like wire.