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one of a breed of small hounds having long ears, short legs, and a usually black, tan, and white coat.
Contemporary Examples

All this time his beagle lay motionless on the floor in the entry hall.
The Day I Met Charles Schulz Daniel J. Levitin February 11, 2013

There was a brief attempt to train a beagle named Python Pete to track the snakes.
The Great Python Hunt Catharine Skipp February 25, 2010

Historical Examples

A few days previously we had a draught of mullet, which served the crews of both Adventure and beagle for three days.
Narrative of the surveying voyages of His Majesty’s ships Adventure and Beagle, between the years 1826 and 1836 Robert FitzRoy

In a few days time the “beagle” will sail for the Galapagos Islands.
More Letters of Charles Darwin Charles Darwin

And even as early as the days of the cruise in the ‘beagle,’ that innate catholicity had already asserted itself in full vigour.
Charles Darwin Grant Allen

Being the second part of the Geology of the Voyage of the beagle, etc.
Life of Charles Darwin G. T. (George Thomas) Bettany

So proceeding thither in his old ship, the beagle, once more in commission, he carried his Fuegian protégés along with him.
The Land of Fire Mayne Reid

Darwin was only three years back from the voyage of the “beagle.”
Makers of British Botany; a collection of biographies by living botanists Various

Mrs. beagle’s “Leghorn,” which looked something like a corn-fan, and came into the country with her, was orthodox.
The Puddleford Papers, H. H. Riley

Rolling the pigskin in front of him, he dove for it, pouncing on it as a beagle on a rabbit.
The Eternal Boy Owen Johnson

noun
a small sturdy breed of hound, having a smooth dense coat usually of white, tan, and black; often used (esp formerly) for hunting hares
(archaic) a person who spies on others
verb
(intransitive) to hunt with beagles, normally on foot
n.

late 15c., of unknown origin, possibly from French becguele “noisy person,” literally “gaping throat,” from bayer “open wide” (see bay (n.2)) + gueule “mouth” (see gullet).