pug
1[ puhg ]
/ pʌg /
noun
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.
QUIZZES
DISCOVER THE INFLUENCE OF PORTUGUESE ON ENGLISH VIA THIS QUIZ!
We’ve gathered some interesting words donated to English from Portuguese … as well as some that just don’t translate at all. Do you know what they mean?
Question 1 of 11
Which of the following animal names traces its immediate origin to Portuguese?
Origin of pug
1First recorded in 1560–70; origin uncertain
OTHER WORDS FROM pug
pug·gi·ness, nounpuggish, puggy, adjectiveWords nearby pug
puff paste, puff pastry, puff piece, puff-puff, puffy, pug, Pugachov, pugaree, pugdog, Puget, Puget Sound
Definition for pug (2 of 4)
pug2
[ puhg ]
/ pʌg /
verb (used with object), pugged, pug·ging.
to fill or stop with clay or the like.
to knead (clay or the like) with water to make it plastic, as for brickmaking.
to pack or cover with mortar or the like, as to deaden sound.
to mix with water so as to form a paste.
Origin of pug
2First recorded in 1800–10; origin uncertain
Definition for pug (3 of 4)
Origin of pug
3First recorded in 1855–60; short for pugilist
Definition for pug (4 of 4)
pug4
[ puhg ]
/ pʌg /
noun
Also called pugmark. a footprint, especially of a game animal.
verb (used with object), pugged, pug·ging.
to track (especially game) by following footprints or another spoor.
Origin of pug
4First recorded in 1860–65; from Hindi pag “footprint”
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for pug
British Dictionary definitions for pug (1 of 3)
pug1
/ (pʌɡ) /
noun
Also called: carlin a small compact breed of dog with a smooth coat, lightly curled tail, and a short wrinkled nose
any of several small geometrid moths, mostly of the genus Eupithecia, with slim forewings held outstretched at rest
Derived forms of pug
puggish, adjectiveWord Origin for pug
C16: of uncertain origin
British Dictionary definitions for pug (2 of 3)
pug2
/ (pʌɡ) /
verb pugs, pugging or pugged (tr)
to mix or knead (clay) with water to form a malleable mass or paste, often in a pug mill
to fill or stop with clay or a similar substance
(of cattle) to trample (the ground) into consolidated mud
Word Origin for pug
C19: of uncertain origin
British Dictionary definitions for pug (3 of 3)
Word Origin for pug
C20: shortened from pugilist
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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