# Talbot

/ˈtæɫbət/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/talbot
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. unit of light energy

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a unit used in science to measure the total amount of light energy.

For teachers: a non-SI unit of luminous energy, equivalent to one lumen-second.

- The scientist calculated the total light output of the flash in talbots.
- While the lumen-second is the standard SI expression, some older photometric texts still quantify luminous energy in terms of the talbot.

Usage: The term is named after the inventor William Fox Talbot.

### 2. extinct hunting dog

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

a large, white hunting dog with long ears that lived hundreds of years ago.

For teachers: an extinct breed of large, white, slow-moving hound with pendulous ears, formerly used for tracking and hunting.

- The old painting showed a hunter followed by a large white talbot.
- The talbot is frequently depicted in medieval heraldry as a symbol of courage and vigilant loyalty.

Teaching tip: This sense is primarily encountered in historical literature or when discussing heraldry and dog breed history.

## Examples

- The old family crest features a white talbot standing on its hind legs.
- Historians believe the modern beagle and bloodhound may share ancestry with the extinct talbot used in medieval England.
- The pub's swinging wooden sign depicted a sturdy talbot, a nod to the local lord's heraldic history and the region's ancient hunting traditions.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.