whelp

American  

[hwelp, welp] / ʰwɛlp, wɛlp /

noun

1. the young of a carnivore, as a dog, bear, lion, seal, etc.

2. a youth, especially an impudent or despised one.

   Synonyms:

   whippersnapper, urchin, brat

3. Machinery.

   1. any of a series of longitudinal projections or ridges on the barrel of a capstan, windlass, etc.

   2. any of the teeth of a sprocket wheel.

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verb (used with or without object)

1. (of a female dog, lion, etc.) to give birth to (young).

whelp British  

/ wɛlp /

noun

1. a young offspring of certain animals, esp of a wolf or dog

2. derogatory a young man or youth

3. humorous a young child

4. nautical any of the ridges, parallel to the axis, on the drum of a capstan to keep a rope, cable, or chain from slipping

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verb

1. (of an animal or, disparagingly, a woman) to give birth to (young)

Other Word Forms

• unwhelped adjective
• whelpless adjective

Etymology

Origin of whelp

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun, from Old English hwelp (cognate with Old Norse hvelpr, Old Saxon hwelp, Old High German hwelf, welf, German Welf); verb derivative of the noun

Explanation

It doesn't sound as cute as "puppy," but whelp means the same thing: a baby dog or wolf. This can also be a verb, as in "The mama poodle whelped six whelps." To someone who studies animals, whelp is just the word for a newborn dog or for birthing. Besides applying to canines such as wolves and coyotes, whelp is sometimes used to describe a young person. This usually isn't a compliment. If an older person calls a young person a whelp or says, "I don't know what's wrong with you whelps these days!", you can be sure they're not impressed by youngsters.

Example Sentences

And for this match at the Kennington Oval, a desperate England were blooding eight new internationals, including a 17-year-old whelp, James Prinsep.

From The Guardian • Feb. 11, 2011

At first, Medicine Ball Caravan looks like another whelp from the Woodstock litter.

From Time Magazine Archive

Anything is possible, but this script makes Nolte seem a rather sullen whelp.

From Time Magazine Archive

Some lousy whelp stole my snow shovel off my porch last week.

From Time Magazine Archive

He had grown more restive every day they waited; much longer and he would have been fit to whelp cubs.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin