whelp

[ welp, hwelp ]

noun

1. the young of a carnivore, as a dog, bear, lion, seal, etc.
2. a youth, especially an impudent or despised one.

   Synonyms: whippersnapper, urchin, brat

3. Machinery.
   1. any of a series of longitudinal projections or ridges on the barrel of a capstan, windlass, etc.
   2. any of the teeth of a sprocket wheel.

verb (used with or without object)

1. (of a female dog, lion, etc.) to give birth to (young).

whelp

/ wɛlp /

noun

1. a young offspring of certain animals, esp of a wolf or dog
2. derogatory.
   a young man or youth
3. humorous.
   a young child
4. nautical any of the ridges, parallel to the axis, on the drum of a capstan to keep a rope, cable, or chain from slipping

verb

1. (of an animal or, disparagingly, a woman) to give birth to (young)

Other Words From

• whelp·less adjective
• un·whelped adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of whelp¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun, from Old English hwelp (cognate with Old Norse hvelpr, Old Saxon hwelp, Old High German hwelf, welf, German Welf); verb derivative of the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of whelp¹

Old English hwelp ( a ); related to Old High German hwelf, Old Norse hvelpr, Danish hvalp

Example Sentences

Then, at long last and at such a late hour, the whelp nuts up.

From Salon

“Whelp, that was an interesting few days,” the billionaire wrote on Twitter on Sunday, responding to complainants denouncing him as “S.B.F. — The Regulator.”

From New York Times

“Whelp, that was an interesting few days,” the billionaire wrote on Twitter on Sunday, responding to complainants denouncing him as “S.B.F. — The Regulator.”

From New York Times

“Whelp. More members of the band tested positive for Covid today, and I was one of them,” the Grammy Award winner wrote Thursday on Instagram.

From Los Angeles Times

The national forest also was slightly modifying closure maps for the Greenwood fire, and the John Ek and Whelp fires.

From Seattle Times