pug

¹ American  

[puhg] / pʌg /

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.

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pug ² American  

[puhg] / pʌg /

verb (used with object)

pugged, pugging

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.

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pug ³ American  

[puhg] / pʌg /

noun

Slang.

1. a boxer; pugilist.

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pug ⁴ American  

[puhg] / pʌg /

noun

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

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verb (used with object)

pugged, pugging

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

pug ¹ British  

/ 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

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pug ² British  

/ pʌɡ /

noun

1. Also called: carlin.  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

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pug ³ British  

/ pʌɡ /

noun

1. a slang name for boxer

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Other Word Forms

• pugginess noun
• puggish adjective
• puggy adjective

Etymology

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”

Example Sentences

“A pug mix. Her name is CPU,” Ray says.

From Literature

On the catwalk and in his own life, Valentino exuded luxury down to the last detail of his immaculate hairdo and caramel tan, often photographed with multiple pug dogs at his side.

From Barron's

Her rescue came in the form of light brown curls and a pug nose and friendly blue eyes.

From Literature

I’d wager a wolf would sooner recognize a sheep as one of its own than a grinning pug.

From The Wall Street Journal

Dogs pant to keep themselves cool, but the shorter snouts of certain flat-faced breeds like bulldogs and pugs make this difficult.

From BBC