pooh

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   An instance of saying "pooh".

   She […] hath ſtiled him with an immortall penne, the bawewawe of ſchollars, the tutt of gentlemen, the tee-heegh of gentlewomen, the phy of citizens, the blurt of Courtiers, the poogh of good letters, the faph of good manners, and the whoop-hooe of good boyes in London ſtreetes.

2. 2
   verb

   To say "pooh".

   The wrimouth'd Crittick... That mewes, and puh's and shakes his brainelesse head...

3. 3
   verb

   To say "pooh" to.

   ‘Pooh! pooh!’ re-echoed his mother, ‘don't pooh me, John.’.

Originally onomatopoeic ("perhaps ancient" according to Online Etymology Dictionary) for a puff of air, after earlier poh and similar to later pew, phew, pho, phoo, poof. Later influenced by poop, onomatopoeic for the sound of flatulating and defecating, and by interjections of disgust similar to phew, pee-ew. Interjection for an unpleasant smell possibly linked to French puer (“to stink”).

Topics

External links

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• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary