People put a lot of thought into what they name their puppy. But have you ever stopped to wonder about where the word puppy comes from? In honor of National Puppy Day, let’s find out!
According to etymologists, the term puppy comes from the French word poupée, which means doll or toy. Some theorize that little dogs were called poupée because they often were petted like dolls by women. The English changed poupée to popi to refer to a woman’s pet. Evidence of this is found in this sentence in Book of Saint Albans, published in 1486, “Smale ladies popis that beere a way the flees.” Alright, I admit that isn’t the most endearing description of a puppy saying we are good for taking the fleas off people, but it’s a start! However, at this time, the preferred word for young dogs in English was whelp.
By the 1500s, the term puppy gained popularity over whelp, and so did their endearing qualities over that initial flea reference. In Of Englishe Dogges, published in 1576, John Caius noted, “Notwithstanding many make much of those pretty puppies called Spaniels gentle, yet if the question were demaunded what propertie in them they saye, which shoulde make them so acceptable and precious in their sight, I doubt their aunswere would be long a coyning.” Alright, again I admit this isn’t the most flattering description suggesting they may not have obvious good qualities besides being pretty. Yet I do admit the sight of a cute puppy leaves most people speechless, so maybe that’s what Caius meant by it.
Which brings me to the most famous writer of the 16th century, who some may argue didn’t hold dogs in the highest of regards, William Shakespeare. Shakespeare used the term dog approximately 200 times in his works, but usually in a negative way. However, it is William Shakespeare who gets the credit for coming up with the term puppy-dog, used in King John, Act II Scene I:
“Here’s a large mouth, indeed,
That spits forth death and mountains, rocks and seas,
Talks as familiarly of roaring lions
As maids of thirteen do of puppy-dogs!”
Now as for where the term dog comes from, well that isn’t as obvious. It is believed it originated from the Old English word, docga, which perhaps referred to a specific breed of dog. However, by the 16th century, dog had become a generic word for all adult dogs.
Regardless of how the word evolved from doll to dog, we can all agree on National Puppy Day, that humans have been talking about puppies for a long time! If you’d like to learn more about the etymology of puppy, we recommend Mashed Radish: Everyday Etymology, Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary’s “Puppies, Puppets, and Pupils: A Little History,” as well as etymonline.com. Also for a fascinating look at all the dog related words and descriptions used by William Shakespeare, check out Shakespeare’s Dogs by Fred Lanting on TheDogPlace.org.
