puppy

[puhp-ee]

noun

plural

puppies 

1. a young dog, especially one less than a year old.

2. Fox Hunting.,  a foxhound that has hunted regularly for less than one season.

3. pup.

4. a presuming, conceited, or empty-headed young man.

puppy

/ ˈpʌpɪ /

noun

1. a young dog; pup

2. informal,  a brash or conceited young man; pup

Other Word Forms

• puppyhood noun
• puppydom noun
• puppyish adjective
• puppylike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of puppy¹

First recorded in 1480–90; earlier popi; puppet, -y ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of puppy¹

C15 popi, from Old French popée doll; compare _puppet

Example Sentences

“That dog has saved my life more times than I can count,” said Koerner, 66, who is single, suffers from bouts of depression, and bonded with Daisy the day he rescued her as a puppy.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The actor has since rehomed the two adult dogs and their three puppies, the statement said, adding “the liability of keeping them was simply too great.”

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“It just makes things more palatable to me to think of the duality of life through the eyes of a little puppy dog or ladybug.”

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Max, who plays the other dog Bandit, is Indy’s puppy pal and belongs to Leonberg’s parents.

Read more on Salon

The movie star’s mask of artifice briefly vanishes, and all that’s left is a puppy dog look of yearning, a sad acceptance that it’s too late to change certain things.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• dog 
• pup 
• whelp