24 November 2017
whelp
[hwelp, welp]
noun
1. the young of the dog, or of the wolf, bear, lion, tiger, seal, etc.
2. a youth, especially an impudent or despised one.
3. Machinery.
any of a series of longitudinal projections or ridges on the barrel of a capstan, windlass, etc.
any of the teeth of a sprocket wheel.
verb (used with or without object)
4. (of a female dog, lion, etc.) to give birth to (young).
Origin of whelp
Middle English, Old English
900 before 900; (noun) Middle English; Old English hwelp (cognate with German Welf); (v.) Middle English whelpen, derivative of the noun
Related forms
whelpless, adjective
unwhelped, adjective
Synonyms
2. brat, urchin, whippersnapper.
Dictionary.com
Examples from the Web for whelp
Historical Examples
For as the lion’s whelp may be called a lion, or the horse’s foal a foal, so the son of a king may be called a king.
Cratylus
Plato
“It seems you love that— whelp, that thing that was my brother,” he said, sneering.
The Sea-Hawk
Raphael Sabatini
Give the whelp a couple of half-crowns, Halkett, and send him adrift.
Confessions Of Con Cregan
Charles James Lever
How came you here, you vagabond Irish whelp, in this company?
Sir Ludar
Talbot Baines Reed
The Lioness came up, and bitterly lamented the death of her whelp.
Aesop’s Fables
Aesop
The whelp of a Wolf was brought him, with a request that he would feel it, and say what it was.
Aesop’s Fables
Aesop
When we came in together to look at the English whelp the drawer was open.
Across the Spanish Main
Harry Collingwood
But it was provoking to be flouted, so politely too, by that whelp of the Golden Dog!
The Golden Dog
William Kirby
You’ve done your work and that whelp shall not keep you out of its results.
Frenzied Finance
Thomas W. Lawson
Today’s quote
Age is foolish and forgetful when it underestimates youth.
– J. K. Rowling
On This Day
24 November 1806 – birth of William Webb Ellis, Anglican clergyman who is credited for creating Rugby Union after allegedly picking up the ball during a soccer match and running with it, while a student at Rugby School. Died 24 February 1872.
24 November 1859 – Charles Darwin publishes his iconic work, The Origin of Species, which has become the foundation of evolutionary biology.
24 November 1991 – death of Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara). British musician and vocalist. Lead singer of rock group, Queen. Born 5 September 1946.
24 November 1991 – death of Eric Carr (Paul Charles Caravello), drummer with Kiss. Born 12 July 1950.