English
puppy
Puppy may come from Middle English *puppee.
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500*puppeeuncertain
- Englishearliest quotation 1711puppy
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500*puppeeuncertain
- Englishearliest quotation 1711puppy
Earliest quotation: 1711, THURSDAY, July 13, 1711: “I found my place taken by an ill-bred, awkward…”
The story
Mostly displaced native Middle English whelp (‘puppy’), from Old English hwelp, whence Modern English whelp and whelpie.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *peh₂w- ‘few, little’
few, poor, fewer, pose, pause, pediatrics, pave, pupil, filly, pedagogy, puppet, menopausal, paucity, orthopedics, posada, puerile, pupa, 31 more
Today it means
noun A young dog, especially before sexual maturity (12–18 months).
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Middle English *puppee / puppy