whelp
[ welp, hwelp ]
/ wɛlp, ʰwɛlp /
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noun
the young of a carnivore, as a dog, bear, lion, seal, etc.
a youth, especially an impudent or despised one.
Machinery.
- any of a series of longitudinal projections or ridges on the barrel of a capstan, windlass, etc.
- any of the teeth of a sprocket wheel.
verb (used with or without object)
(of a female dog, lion, etc.) to give birth to (young).
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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
OTHER WORDS FROM whelp
whelp·less, adjectiveun·whelped, adjectiveWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH whelp
whelp, welpDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use whelp in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for whelp
whelp
/ (wɛlp) /
noun
a young offspring of certain animals, esp of a wolf or dog
derogatory a young man or youth
jocular a young child
nautical any of the ridges, parallel to the axis, on the drum of a capstan to keep a rope, cable, or chain from slipping
verb
(of an animal or, disparagingly, a woman) to give birth to (young)
Word Origin for whelp
Old English hwelp (a); related to Old High German hwelf, Old Norse hvelpr, Danish hvalp
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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