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whelped

[hwelp, welp] Origin

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.
a.
any of a series of longitudinal projections or ridges on the barrel of a capstan, windlass, etc.
b.
any of the teeth of a sprocket wheel.
verb (used with object), verb (used without object)
4.
(of a female dog, lion, etc.) to give birth to (young).

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Whelped is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
a fool or simpleton; ninny.

Origin:
before 900; (noun) Middle English; Old English hwelp (cognate with German Welf); (v.) Middle English whelpen, derivative of the noun

whelp·less, adjective
un·whelped, adjective


2. brat, urchin, whippersnapper.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

whelp
O.E. hwelp "whelp, young of the dog," from a Gmc. root related to O.S. hwelp, O.N. hvelpr, Du. welp, Ger. hwelf; of unknown origin. Now largely displaced by puppy. Also applied to wild animals. Sense of "scamp" first recorded early 14c.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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