pup
[puhp]
- a young dog; puppy.
- the young of certain other animals, as the rat or fur seal.
- a small plant developing as an offshoot from a mature plant.
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- to give birth to pups.
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Origin of pup
First recorded in 1580–90; apocopated variant of puppy
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for pup
Contemporary Examples
You can even compare your pup to other similar breeds to offer an understanding of where your dog falls on the activity spectrum.
Has your pup suddenly become more lethargic in your absence?
Who really owns a dog, if no official paperwork is signed as the pup gets transferred from one person to the next?
Walking their pup Lupo in Kensington Park is an almost daily occurrence when they are in London.
Designer Simon Spurr brought along his hulking, 90-pound pup Apollo.
Historical Examples
The moment his back was turned, the pup had sneaked into the kitchen.
The Woman-HatersJoseph C. Lincoln
Busted more clotheslines than I've got fingers and toes, that pup has.
The Woman-HatersJoseph C. Lincoln
Bill Dancing decided, off-hand, that “the pup” was worthless.
The Mountain DivideFrank H. Spearman
He had a blacksnake whip in his hand and was teasing a pup with it.
Oh, You Tex!William Macleod Raine
Here in the rich cream of the day we're waiting for the mail, Dan'l and I and the pup.
Jane Journeys OnRuth Comfort Mitchell
pup
- a young dog, esp when under one year of age; puppy
- the young of various other animals, such as the seal
- in pup (of a bitch) pregnant
- informal, mainly British derogatory a conceited young man (esp in the phrase young pup)
- sell someone a pup to swindle someone by selling him something worthless
- the night's a pup Australian slang it's early yet
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- (of dogs, seals, etc) to give birth to (young)
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Word Origin
C18: back formation from puppy
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 pup
n.
"young dog," 1760, shortened form of puppy (q.v.). Used from 1580s for "conceited person." Applied to the young of the fur seal from 1815. Used for "inexperienced person" by 1890. Pup tent (also dog tent) is from 1863. Sopwith pup, popular name of the Sopwith Scout Tractor airplane, is from 1917.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper