pug

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a small, sturdy dog with a short muzzle, broad wrinkled face, smooth coat, and tightly curled tail

   The elderly pug slept beside the radiator with its tail curled over its back.

2. 2
   verb

   to mix and work wet clay or a similar material until it becomes uniform and easy to shape

   The potter used the machine to pug the clay before throwing the bowls.

3. 3
   noun

   dated informal: a boxer or prizefighter

   The retired pug still trained young fighters at the neighborhood gym.

Common collocations

• pug nose Noun + noun

The dog name developed from an older pug meaning an imp, monkey, or familiar creature, perhaps related to Puck; pug-dog is recorded in the eighteenth century. The clay-working verb is of uncertain origin. The dated boxing noun is a shortening of pugilist, while pug for an animal track comes separately from Hindi and Urdu pag, 'foot or step.'

Topics

External links

• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary
• Google Images