puppet

[puhp-it] /ˈpʌp ɪt/
noun
1.
an artificial figure representing a human being or an animal, manipulated by the hand, rods, wires, etc., as on a miniature stage.
Compare hand puppet, marionette.
2.
a person, group, government, etc., whose actions are prompted and controlled by another or others.
3.
a small doll.
4.
Machinery, poppethead.
Origin
1350-1400; earlier poppet, Middle English popet, apparently alteration of Middle Low German poppe doll < Late Latin puppa, Latin pūpa doll; see -et
Related forms
puppetlike, adjective
Synonyms
2. pawn, figurehead, instrument.
Examples from the web for puppet
  • The team decided it was best to build a puppet that could be manipulated from beneath using control rods.
  • Using the puppet, tell the students that they will be meeting a new friend.
  • If you fall for this, you will be a puppet in the hands of those with sinister intentions.
  • But slowly it has turned into a puppet show for far left propaganda.
  • From puppet reenactments to modern sports websites.
  • Or more generally, whether or not the government is widely perceived by its people as being a western puppet.
  • puppet theater performances are held several times a week, and pony rides are available every weekend.
  • But now the president has his own puppet to play with.
  • One group was shown that when you pressed one lever, the duck appeared and when you pressed the other, the puppet popped up.
  • Seriously, they could populate their own puppet show.
British Dictionary definitions for puppet

puppet

/ˈpʌpɪt/
noun
1.
  1. a small doll or figure of a person or animal moved by strings attached to its limbs or by the hand inserted in its cloth body
  2. (as modifier): a puppet theatre
2.
  1. a person, group, state, etc, that appears independent but is in fact controlled by another
  2. (as modifier): a puppet government
Word Origin
C16 popet, perhaps from Old French poupette little doll, ultimately from Latin pūpa girl, doll
Word Origin and History for puppet
n.

"doll moved by strings or wires" (later applied to puppets in glove form), 1530s, later form of Middle English popet "doll" (c.1300; cf. poppet), from Old French popette "little doll, puppet," diminutive of popee "doll, puppet" (13c., Modern French poupée), from Vulgar Latin *puppa, from Latin pupa "girl; doll" (see pupil (n.1)).

Metaphoric extension to "one whose actions are manipulated by another" first recorded 1540s (as poppet). Puppet show attested from 1650s, earlier puppet-play (1550s). Puppet government is attested from 1884 (in reference to Egypt).