puppy English · revision 10588

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=borrowing|attested=1486|origins=frm poupée}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈpʌp.i/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is of uncertain origin,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) but probably from Middle French [[m|frm|poupée|t=doll, toy]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(Hoad 1986) from Vulgar Latin *puppa, from Latin pūpa, girl, doll (see [[puppet]] and [[pupil]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) since a small pet dog was treated like a toy.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A small dog kept as a lady's pet, a toy dog: 1486.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The meaning shifted to a young dog, a whelp, in Shakespeare's Two Gentlemen of Verona (1591),^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) replacing [[whelp]].^(Etymonline) As a term of contempt for a vain, impertinent young man it is from 1589.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) ''Puppy dog'' is from 1595, in King John,^(Barnhart 1988) ''puppy love'' from 1823 in Etymonline, 1834 in Barnhart,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and ''puppy fat'' by 1913.^(Etymonline) [[pup]] is a shortening.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1486 – a lap dog.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1589 – a conceited young man.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1591 – a young dog.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1823 – puppy love.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1913 – puppy fat.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A young [[dog]]; a [[pup]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal, derogatory)'' An inexperienced, brash or conceited young man.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[puppyhood]]

+ * [[puppyish]]

+ * [[puppylike]]

+ * [[hushpuppy]]

+ * [[mudpuppy]]

+ * [[puppy dog]]

+ * [[puppy love]]

+ * [[puppy mill]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[pup]]

+ * [[puppet]]

+ * [[poppet]]

+ * [[pupil]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}