petting

[pet-ing]

noun

1. the act of fondling or caressing.

   Petting or massage may help calm a stressed or hyperactive dog.

2. Informal.,  kissing, caressing, and other sexual activity between partners that does not involve sexual intercourse.

3. the present participle of pet.

Word History and Origins

Origin of petting¹

First recorded in 1870–75; pet ¹ + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

His study was filled with taxidermy, and Lord Fredrick wandered from one lifeless creature to the next, idly petting their sawdust-filled heads.

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The next morning, I wandered into a local yarn store called The Dropped Stitch and found myself petting skeins of mohair in colors with edible names: “tarragon,” “licorice,” “pumpkin spice.”

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Valor Memorial Park stands as a kind of petting zoo for tributes to the moral sewage of Lost Cause mythology.

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One cannot tell if a cow’s milk is safe by petting the animal.

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To prevent transmission, experts recommend owners practise good hygiene, including washing their hands after petting their dog or cat and after handling their waste.

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