pug

¹

[ puhg ]

noun

1. one of a breed of small, short-haired dogs having a tightly curled tail, a deeply wrinkled face, and a smooth coat that is black or silver and fawn with black markings.
2. pug nose.

pug

²

[ puhg ]

verb (used with object)

, pugged, pug·ging.

1. to fill or stop with clay or the like.
2. to knead (clay or the like) with water to make it plastic, as for brickmaking.
3. to pack or cover with mortar or the like, as to deaden sound.
4. to mix with water so as to form a paste.

pug

³

[ puhg ]

noun

, Slang.

1. a boxer; pugilist.

pug

⁴

[ puhg ]

noun

1. Also called pugmark. a footprint, especially of a game animal.

verb (used with object)

, pugged, pug·ging.

1. to track (especially game) by following footprints or another spoor.

pug

¹

/ pʌɡ /

noun

1. Also calledcarlin a small compact breed of dog with a smooth coat, lightly curled tail, and a short wrinkled nose
2. any of several small geometrid moths, mostly of the genus Eupithecia, with slim forewings held outstretched at rest

pug

²

/ pʌɡ /

verb

1. to mix or knead (clay) with water to form a malleable mass or paste, often in a pug mill
2. to fill or stop with clay or a similar substance
3. (of cattle) to trample (the ground) into consolidated mud

pug

³

/ pʌɡ /

noun

1. a slang name for boxer

Derived Forms

• ˈpuggish, adjective

Other Words From

• puggi·ness noun
• puggish puggy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pug¹

First recorded in 1560–70; origin uncertain

Origin of pug²

First recorded in 1800–10; origin uncertain

Origin of pug³

First recorded in 1855–60; short for pugilist

Origin of pug⁴

First recorded in 1860–65; from Hindi pag “footprint”

Word History and Origins

Origin of pug¹

C16: of uncertain origin

Origin of pug²

C19: of uncertain origin

Origin of pug³

C20: shortened from pugilist

Example Sentences

Whether your favorite four-legged friend is a yellow lab, a pug, or a tuxedo tabby cat, you’ve probably seen them chasing, and then devouring—with relish—the occasional butterfly or cricket.

From Quartz

Rounding out the household is the family dog, a googly-eyed pug named Monchi.

From Washington Blade

In old Instagram posts, Graziano attempts to rouse the pug checking if he’d be a “wet” or “soggy” Noodle.

From Washington Post

If the pug remains standing for even a few seconds, it is a “bones” day, a day for action and accomplishing goals.

From Washington Post

One recent video of Noodle has accumulated upwards of 11 million views, and the pug has been featured everywhere from NBC’s Today show to the New York Times.

From Quartz

Clarke remains a most literal champion of the underdog; her present pet reportedly is a deaf and blind pug named Jack.

From The Daily Beast

A giant silk-screen of Sophia Loren hung in the background; the couple's pug nuzzled at the trio's feet.

From The Daily Beast

I took the rabbit with a pair of tongs; the others had handled their baits and pug crept round 'em and nosed the trick.

From Project Gutenberg

"So you see what went when I went," the pug said, after a noisy pause.

From Project Gutenberg

Its father was a Great Dane, and its mother a pug, but considering it is a 'Hun' it is not half bad, and is a great favourite.

From Project Gutenberg

I hopes they makes a clean job of it, said Pug; and I hopes they sweep away some of them blasted machine guns at the same time.

From Project Gutenberg

Near the top Pug exclaimed suddenly, grasped wildly at nothing, collapsed and rolled backward into the trench.

From Project Gutenberg