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legal beagle

noun
/ˌliːɡl̩ ˈbiːɡl̩/UK/ˌliɡəl ˈbiɡəl/US

Etymology

From legal + beagle. Beagle was probably chosen for the rhyme and because beagles were traditionally used for hunting hares or rabbits, due to their keen sense of smell and tracking instinct. Compare legal eagle.

  1. derived from bedel — “beadle”
  2. derived from gueule — “gullet”
  3. derived from beer
  4. derived from beegueule — “one who keeps their mouth open”
  5. compounded as legal beagle — “legal + beagle”

Definitions

  1. A lawyer, specifically one regarded as astute and skilful.

    • He was a prosecutor before entering private practice and gaining a reputation as a legal beagle.
    • He offer'd submission in meekness and tears, / The fierce legal beagles to hush; / But they clapp'd him in Newgate a couple of years, / To keep him from—"Buying a Brush."
    • For our part we are quite willing to pass the immortelles to Outerbridge Horsey, Banker Stillman's legal beagle.

The neighborhood

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sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA