puppy
[puhp-ee]
- a young dog, especially one less than a year old.
- Fox Hunting. a foxhound that has hunted regularly for less than one season.
- pup(def 2).
- a presuming, conceited, or empty-headed young man.
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Origin of puppy
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for puppies
Contemporary Examples
He saves the helpless from burning buildings and puppies from untimely deaths.
She became vegan, “inspired by a love of puppies and a cow that winked at me on a family vacation.”
Speed Read: Lena Dunham’s Most Shocking Confessions From ‘Not That Kind of Girl’Kevin Fallon
September 26, 2014
Today she was letting her two puppies, Dex and Didi, run in the park.
The puppies come from more than 20 shelters across the country—Artemis came from Puerto Rico, just for the occasion.
Handlers bring the puppies down in waves to prevent them from getting too tired, freaked out, or antsy while filming.
Historical Examples
Two puppies were carried in a basket, one of which the Princess accepted as a gift.
The Grand Old ManRichard B. Cook
Even at this stage there was a certain individuality of character among the puppies.
Johnny BearE. T. Seton
He never played and gambolled about with the other puppies of the camp.
White FangJack London
A second and smaller sled was driven by Mit-sah, and to this was harnessed a team of puppies.
White FangJack London
A sound had reached her, a sound which had nothing to do with the two puppies, or the hens, outside.
The Law-BreakersRidgwell Cullum
puppy
- a young dog; pup
- informal, derogatory a brash or conceited young man; pup
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Word Origin
C15 popi, from Old French popée doll; compare puppet
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 puppies
puppy
n.
late 15c., "woman's small pet dog," of uncertain origin but likely from Middle French poupée "doll, toy" (see puppet). Meaning shifted from "toy dog" to "young dog" (1590s), replacing Middle English whelp. In early use in English puppet and puppy were not always distinct from each other. Also used about that time in sense of "vain young man." Puppy-dog first attested 1590s (in Shakespeare, puppi-dogges). Puppy love is from 1823. Puppy fat is from 1937.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper