cub
[kuhb]
- the young of certain animals, as the bear, lion, or tiger.
- a young shark.
- a young and inexperienced person, especially a callow youth or young man.
- a young person serving as an apprentice.
- cub reporter.
- cub scout.
- (initial capital letter) Aeronautics, Trademark. any small, light monoplane with a high wing, a single engine, and an enclosed cabin.
Show More
- to work as a cub reporter.
- (of a female bear, lion, tiger, etc.) to give birth to a cub or cubs.
- to hunt fox cubs.
Show More
Origin of cub
1520–30; perhaps < Scandinavian; compare Old Norse kobbi young seal, kubbr stump, hence, short, thick-set person
cub.
Show More
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for cub
Contemporary Examples
Straight people have discovered, and co-opted, the gay “bear” and “cub.”
The end is here, but for cub detective Henry Palace, there is still one more case to solve—that of his missing sister.
If true, the cub would be named 100 days after the birth, as the Chinese tradition goes.
One mother had an alarm go off on her phone saying it was time to take her boy to a Cub Scout meeting.
At what point can you tell that the “cub” has graduated to a more mature sexual persona?
Historical Examples
As he spoke he glared at her as a lion might glare at thought of being defeated by a cub.
Southern Lights and ShadowsVarious
But there were other forces at work in the cub, the greatest of which was growth.
White FangJack London
Midway in the passage, the current picked up the cub and swept him downstream.
White FangJack London
The cub experienced another access of affection on the part of his mother.
White FangJack London
The cub, who had thus received a name in the world, lay and watched.
White FangJack London
cub
- the young of certain animals, such as the lion, bear, etc
- a young or inexperienced person
Show More
- to give birth to (cubs)
Show More
Word Origin
C16: perhaps from Old Norse kubbi young seal; see cob 1
Cub
- short for Cub Scout
Show More
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for cub
n.
1520s, cubbe "young fox," of unknown origin; perhaps from Old Irish cuib "whelp," or from Old Norse kobbi "seal." Extended to the young of bears, lions, etc., after 1590s. The native word was whelp. Cub Scout is from 1922.
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper