pug

¹

[ puhg ]

noun

1. one of a breed of small, short-haired dogs having a tightly curled tail, a deeply wrinkled face, and a smooth coat that is black or silver and fawn with black markings.
2. pug nose.

pug

²

[ puhg ]

verb (used with object)

, pugged, pug·ging.

1. to fill or stop with clay or the like.
2. to knead (clay or the like) with water to make it plastic, as for brickmaking.
3. to pack or cover with mortar or the like, as to deaden sound.
4. to mix with water so as to form a paste.

pug

³

[ puhg ]

noun

, Slang.

1. a boxer; pugilist.

pug

⁴

[ puhg ]

noun

1. Also called pugmark. a footprint, especially of a game animal.

verb (used with object)

, pugged, pug·ging.

1. to track (especially game) by following footprints or another spoor.

pug

¹

/ pʌɡ /

noun

1. Also calledcarlin a small compact breed of dog with a smooth coat, lightly curled tail, and a short wrinkled nose
2. any of several small geometrid moths, mostly of the genus Eupithecia, with slim forewings held outstretched at rest

pug

²

/ pʌɡ /

verb

1. to mix or knead (clay) with water to form a malleable mass or paste, often in a pug mill
2. to fill or stop with clay or a similar substance
3. (of cattle) to trample (the ground) into consolidated mud

pug

³

/ pʌɡ /

noun

1. a slang name for boxer

Derived Forms

• ˈpuggish, adjective

Other Words From

• puggi·ness noun
• puggish puggy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pug¹

First recorded in 1560–70; origin uncertain

Origin of pug²

First recorded in 1800–10; origin uncertain

Origin of pug³

First recorded in 1855–60; short for pugilist

Origin of pug⁴

First recorded in 1860–65; from Hindi pag “footprint”

Word History and Origins

Origin of pug¹

C16: of uncertain origin

Origin of pug²

C19: of uncertain origin

Origin of pug³

C20: shortened from pugilist

Example Sentences

Mamba, a senior pug, wandered around before lying down next to her feet.

From Los Angeles Times

Specific dog breeds at increased risk include chow chows, bulldogs, French bulldogs, dogue de Bordeaux, greyhounds, boxers, English springer spaniels, Cavalier King Charles spaniels, pugs, golden retrievers and Staffordshire bull terriers.

From Los Angeles Times

The five-year-old pugese – a pug and Chinese crested cross – was cast as "Dogpool" after finding fame last year when she was crowned the ugliest pooch in a national contest last year.

From BBC

Billy Joel was grateful for her attention to his three-legged black pug; Cher, less so, after her rescue dog was diagnosed with sarcoptic mange, contagious between species.

From New York Times

Sherlock Holmes could have used a pug, not his favored bloodhound, to sniff out clues and gotten the same results, a study suggests.

From Science Magazine