Whelp: meaning, definitions and examples
๐ถ
whelp
[ wษlp ]
young animal
A whelp is a young offspring of a dog or another carnivorous mammal, especially during the first few weeks after birth. It is commonly used when referring to puppies, but can also apply to the young of certain wild animals. Whelps are known for their rapid growth and development during early life stages.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The whelp followed its mother closely.
- Veterinarians conducted a checkup on the litter of whelps.
- She fostered a whelp that had been abandoned.
- The whelp played joyfully with its siblings.
give birth
To whelp means to give birth to whelps, especially in reference to dogs. When a dog is said to whelp, it signifies that she is in labor and is delivering her puppies. This term is often used in breeding and veterinary contexts.
Synonyms
birth, bring forth, deliver, produce.
Examples of usage
- The dog whelped five healthy puppies.
- She was anxious as her dog began to whelp.
- After hours of waiting, the dog finally whelped the first pup.
- Whelping can be a challenging process for new mothers.
Translations
Translations of the word "whelp" in other languages:
๐ต๐น filhote
๐ฎ๐ณ เคชเคฟเคฒเฅเคฒเคพ
๐ฉ๐ช Welpe
๐ฎ๐ฉ anak anjing
๐บ๐ฆ ัะตะฝั
๐ต๐ฑ szczeniak
๐ฏ๐ต ๅญ็ฌ
๐ซ๐ท chiot
๐ช๐ธ cachorro
๐น๐ท yavru
๐ฐ๐ท ๊ฐ์์ง
๐ธ๐ฆ ุฌุฑู
๐จ๐ฟ ลกtฤnฤ
๐ธ๐ฐ ลกteniatko
๐จ๐ณ ๅฐ็
๐ธ๐ฎ kuลพa
๐ฎ๐ธ hvolpur
๐ฐ๐ฟ ัะตะฝะพะบ
๐ฌ๐ช แแแขแแ แ แซแแฆแแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ puppy
๐ฒ๐ฝ cachorro
Etymology
The word 'whelp' originates from the Old English word 'whelp', which has Germanic roots and is connected to similar words in Old High German ('weppy') and in other Germanic languages. The term has been in use since before the 12th century, initially referring to the young of various animals, especially dogs. Over time, its primary association became linked to canines, highlighting the nurturing aspects of motherhood in the animal kingdom. The usage as a verb to describe the act of giving birth is also derived from this historical context, illustrating a straightforward linguistic evolution reflecting early human interactions with domestic animals.
Word Frequency Rank
This word's position of #32,398 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.
- ...
- 32395 bling
- 32396 denigrating
- 32397 snored
- 32398 whelp
- 32399 yawing
- 32400 rubberized
- 32401 legit
- ...