Pug
/pʌɡ/noun
A small, compact breed of dog with a wrinkled face and curled tail.
Did you know?The dog breed name is often linked to an older English word for a monkey or impish little fellow, likely from a playful association with the breed’s expressive face rather than any true occult origin.
Etymological Timeline
16th Century
English
pug
“A term used for a monkey, a dwarf, or a mischievous little fellow; later applied to the dog breed”
Middle English
English
pugge
“A pet name or term of endearment, and also a monkey-like or impish creature”
Early Modern English
English
pug
“A small dog, especially the breed now known as the pug”
Uncertain; possibly related to a colloquial nickname
Unknown
pug
“The ultimate origin is unclear, but it likely began as a familiar or humorous descriptive word”