poppet

American  

[pop-it] / ˈpɒp ɪt /

noun

1. Also called poppet valve.  Machinery. a rising and falling valve consisting of a disk at the end of a vertically set stem, used in internal-combustion and steam engines.

2. British Dialect. a girl or child (used as a term of endearment).

3. Nautical. any of the vertical timbers bracing the bow or stern of a vessel about to be launched.

4. poppit.

5. poppethead.

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poppet British  

/ ˈpɒpɪt /

noun

1. a term of affection for a small child or sweetheart

2. Also called: poppet valve.  a mushroom-shaped valve that is lifted from its seating against a spring by applying an axial force to its stem: commonly used as an exhaust or inlet valve in an internal-combustion engine

3. nautical a temporary supporting brace for a vessel hauled on land or in a dry dock

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Etymology

Origin of poppet

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English; earlier form of puppet

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

poppet

Let’s wrap those up for you, shall we, poppet?

From Salon ● Feb. 24, 2014

Adolescent pop poppet Justin Bieber constantly Tweets photos of himself with his shirt off to the shrieking delight of his huge online following.

From The Guardian ● Jul. 13, 2013

The camera went berserk as the curly-headed poppet blinked in surprise as she clutched her teddy bear.

From The Guardian ● Nov. 23, 2010

His letters to her, though, radiate warmth; he called her "my poppet" and "Whiskers" and confessed that their long separations during his service in World War II sometimes left him "near to tears."

From Time Magazine Archive

I thought about the marsh—not the poppet grabbing me, but what had happened when I tried to get away.

From "Root Magic" by Eden Royce