puss

¹ American  

[poos] / pʊs /

noun

1. a cat.

2. Informal. a girl or woman: often used as a form of affectionate address.

3. British. a hare.

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puss ² American  

[poos] / pʊs /

noun

Slang.

1. face.

   She smacked him in the puss.

2. mouth.

   Shut your puss before I shut it for you.

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puss ¹ British  

/ pʊs /

noun

1. an informal name for a cat 1 See also pussy 1

2. slang a girl or woman

3. an informal name for a hare

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puss ² British  

/ pʊs /

noun

1. the face

2. a gloomy or sullen expression

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Other Word Forms

• pusslike adjective

Etymology

Origin of puss¹

1520–30; akin to Dutch poes, Low German puus-katte, dialectal Swedish kattepus, Norwegian puse ( kat )

Origin of puss²

First recorded in 1880–85, puss is from the Irish word pus lip, mouth

Example Sentences

Here are four things to know about the purr-fect puss who over the years has charmed his way into the hearts of some of the world's top politicians.

From Barron's • Feb. 15, 2026

But the ginger and white puss could not get enough of school and regularly roams classrooms and relaxes on the grounds.

From BBC • Sep. 29, 2022

The University of Florida’s entomology and nematology department notes the puss caterpillar is one of the most venomous caterpillars in the U.S.

From Fox News • Oct. 12, 2020

In September, a New Kent County, Virginia, woman said she felt a pain in her right leg from a puss caterpillar after she reached into her car, The Daily Progress reported.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 10, 2020

Mam says he has the charm, and she tells me, There’s no use sending you with your long puss and your father’s odd manner.

From "Angela's Ashes: A Memoir" by Frank McCourt