Pup
/pʌp/noun
A young dog or other young mammal, especially a puppy.
Did you know?Latin pupa meant both “doll” and “chrysalis,” likely because a developing insect was imagined as a wrapped-up little figure; English words such as “pupate” preserve that imagery.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
pupa
“Doll or girl; also a chrysalis or insect in its seemingly lifeless stage”
Medieval Latin
Latin
pupa
“A doll or small figure; the source of later Romance forms”
13th–15th Century
Old French
poupe / poupée
“Doll; a term that developed affectionate and diminutive forms”
15th–16th Century
French and English
poupee / puppy
“A doll or pet-name form; “puppy” came to mean a young dog”
16th Century
English
pup
“A shortened form of “puppy,” meaning a young dog”
Modern English
English
pup
“A young dog or, more broadly, a young animal”