pug

1 of 4

noun (1)

1
: any of a breed of small sturdy compact dogs of Asian origin with a smooth, short coat, tightly curled tail, short muzzle, and broad wrinkled face
2
a
b
: a close knot or coil of hair : bun

Illustration of pug

Illustration of pug
  • pug 1

pug

2 of 4

verb

pugged; pugging

transitive verb

: to work and mix (a substance, such as clay) when wet especially to make more homogeneous and easier to handle (as in throwing or molding wares)

pug

3 of 4

noun (2)

pug

4 of 4

noun (3)

Examples of pug in a Sentence

Noun (2) a retired pug with battered ears and swollen knuckles
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Rarely are comedians the beautiful people, and this is true of pugs among dogs. Alex Distefano, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2024 Tom and Cynthia have birds, lizards, cats and dogs — including a pug named Frank who frequently makes appearances on Tom’s Instagram. Emily Blackwood, People.com, 31 Oct. 2024 The American Veterinary Medical Association notes that short-nosed breeds, such as pugs and bulldogs, are more likely to die on airplanes than dogs with normal-length muzzles, because these breeds are more prone to respiratory problems. Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 24 Oct. 2024 There’s the pug in repose on a bay-window banquette in a $12.95 million townhouse on the Upper East Side. Clio Chang, Curbed, 14 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for pug 

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

obsolete pug hobgoblin, monkey

Verb

origin unknown

Noun (2)

by shortening & alteration from pugilist

Noun (3)

Hindi & Urdu pag foot, step

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1751, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1843, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1858, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1851, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pug was in 1751

Dictionary Entries Near pug

Cite this Entry

“Pug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pug. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

pug

noun
ˈpəg
: any of a breed of small sturdy compact dogs having a short coat, tightly curled tail, and broad wrinkled face

More from Merriam-Webster on pug

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