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whelp

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The definition of a whelp is a young animal or child.

(noun)

An example of a whelp is a puppy.

Whelp is defined as to give birth.

(verb)

An example of whelp is for a dog to have puppies.

See whelp in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a young dog; puppy
a young lion, tiger, leopard, bear, wolf, etc.; cub
a youth or child: a term showing contempt
any of the teeth on a sprocket wheel
Naut. any of the ribs or ridges along the barrel of a capstan or the drum of a windlass: usually used in pl.

Origin: ME < OE hwelp, akin to Ger welf, ON hvelpr, puppy, prob. < IE *kwel-, var. of base *kel-, to cry out, call > low, Welsh colwyn, puppy

transitive verb, intransitive verb

to give birth to (young): said of some animals

See whelp in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A young offspring of a mammal, such as a dog or wolf.
a. A child; a youth.
b. An impudent young fellow.
a. A tooth of a sprocket wheel.
b. Nautical Any of the ridges on the barrel of a windlass or capstan.