Your ShelfYour Projects
Webster's Dictionary (1865)

3 entries under this word

Whelp

Whĕlp, n.

noun

(hwĕlp), n. [A-S. & O. Sax. hwelp, Icel. hvelpr, Dan. hvalp, Sw. valp, D. welp, O. H. Ger. hwelf, welf.]

  1. The young of the canine species, and also of beasts of prey; a puppy; a cub; as, a bear robbed of her whelps; lions’ whelps.
  2. A child; a youth;—jocosely or contemptuously so called.

That awkward whelp with his money-bags would have made his entrance. Addison. Whelps of a windlass, capstan, or the like (Naut.), short, upright pieces of wood, &c., placed round the barrel, to prevent it from being chafed.

Whĕlp, v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. [imp. & p. p. WHELPED (hwĕlpt); p. pr. & vb. n. WHELPING.] To bring forth young, as the female of the canine species and some other beasts of prey.

Whĕlp, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. To bring forth, as cubs or young; to give birth to.

Unless she had whelped it herself, she could not have loved a thing better. B. Jonson.

Did thy foul fancy whelp so foul a scheme? Young.