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pug¹

(pŭg)

1. A dog of a small sturdy breed developed in China, having a short muzzle, wrinkled face, short smooth coat, and tightly curled tail.

2. A pug nose.

[Origin unknown.]

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pug1

pug²

(pŭg)

1. Clay ground and kneaded with water into a plastic consistency for forming bricks or pottery.

2. A machine for grinding and mixing clay.

tr.v. pugged, pug·ging, pugs

1. To work or knead (clay) with water.

2. To fill in with clay or mortar.

3. To make soundproof by covering or packing with clay, mortar, sawdust, or felt.

[Origin unknown.]

pug³

(pŭg)

A footprint, track, or trail, especially of an animal; a pugmark.

[Hindi pag, probably from Sanskrit padakam, footstep, foot, from padam; see ped- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

pug⁴

(pŭg)

n.
Slang

A fighter, especially a boxer.

[Short for PUGILIST, boxer.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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