puppy

[puhp-ee] /ˈpʌp i/
noun, plural puppies.
1.
a young dog, especially one less than a year old.
2.
Fox Hunting. a foxhound that has hunted regularly for less than one season.
3.
pup (def 2).
4.
a presuming, conceited, or empty-headed young man.
Origin
1480-90; earlier popi. See puppet, -y2
Related forms
puppyhood, puppydom, noun
puppyish, adjective
puppylike, adjective
Examples from the web for puppy
  • The current puppy pack, seeing him as a wolf, immediately attack him.
  • Unless it is a wet year, only one puppy from a litter might be selected to live.
British Dictionary definitions for puppy

puppy

/ˈpʌpɪ/
noun (pl) -pies
1.
a young dog; pup
2.
(informal, derogatory) a brash or conceited young man; pup
Derived Forms
puppyhood, noun
puppyish, adjective
Word Origin
C15 popi, from Old French popée doll; compare puppet
Word Origin and History for puppy
n.

late 15c., "woman's small pet dog," of uncertain origin but likely from Middle French poupée "doll, toy" (see puppet). Meaning shifted from "toy dog" to "young dog" (1590s), replacing Middle English whelp. In early use in English puppet and puppy were not always distinct from each other. Also used about that time in sense of "vain young man." Puppy-dog first attested 1590s (in Shakespeare, puppi-dogges). Puppy love is from 1823. Puppy fat is from 1937.

Slang definitions & phrases for puppy

puppy

noun
  1. A wimp or softie: You're such a puppy
  2. A thing or part of a thing: Put that puppy down and help me