an artificial figure representing a human being or an animal, manipulated by the hand, rods, wires, etc., as on a miniature stage.Compare hand puppet, marionette.
a person, group, government, etc., whose actions are prompted and controlled by another or others.
a small doll.
Machinery. poppethead.
Origin of puppet
1350–1400; earlier poppet,Middle English popet, apparently alteration of Middle Low German poppe doll <Late Latin puppa,Latin pūpa doll; see -et
Computer-programmed light pulses can then target these newly light-sensitive neurons in a particular region of the brain and control their activity like puppets on a string.
Scientists Found a New Way to Control the Brain With Light—No Surgery Required|Shelly Fan|October 13, 2020|Singularity Hub
He’d look at the wrong target, knowing it was wrong, but still stare at it like a puppet.
How Scientists Influenced Monkeys’ Decisions Using Ultrasound in Their Brains|Shelly Fan|May 27, 2020|Singularity Hub
Here’s what the actor Geena Davis — by the way, she prefers “actor” to “actress” — here’s what she told us about the beloved educational series with a cast of puppet characters.
Does Hollywood Still Have a Princess Problem? (Ep. 394)|Stephen J. Dubner|October 24, 2019|Freakonomics
In 2006, Israel's Rechov Sumsum added Mahboub, an Arab-Israeli puppet who spoke both languages on the series.
‘Sesame Street’ Is Middle-Aged and Awesome|Emily Shire|November 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was a hand, it was a puppet, it was half-CGI, but mostly puppetry.
All Eyes on Anjelica Huston: The Legendary Actress on Love, Abuse, and Jack Nicholson|Alex Suskind|November 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In another study, children saw a puppet show where a mouse was eaten by an alligator.
Why Are Millennials Unfriending Organized Religion?|Vlad Chituc|November 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One of the student leaders, Joshua Wong, was accused of being a puppet of the American government.
Is Hong Kong Tiananmen 2.0?|Brendon Hong|September 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
GoDaddy: Puppet Master Scantily clad women and sexy Danica Patrick are so last year.
The 15 Best Super Bowl 2014 Commercials|Ben Teitelbaum|February 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In these latter careful etchings the power of Cruikshank to inform a puppet with life, and keep it wooden still, is conspicuous.
The Life Of George Cruikshank, Vol. I. (of II)|Blanchard Jerrold
I am not playing a part now, I'm not a puppet mouthing the words of another man any longer, and I can't find expression.
The Socialist|Cyril Arthur Edward Ranger Gull
In early boyhood Morton amused himself and astonished those about him by enacting plays for a puppet theatre.
Memoir of John Lothrop Motley, Complete|Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
No;—the misguided young man was now the victim of a gang of swindlers—the puppet of a coldblooded courtesan.
The Fortunes of Hector O'Halloran, And His Man Mark Antony O'Toole|W. H. Maxwell
A girl, for instance, who danced at midnight with a straw Julebuk, found that her partner was no puppet but the Evil One himself.
Christmas in Ritual and Tradition, Christian and Pagan|Clement A. Miles
British Dictionary definitions for puppet
puppet
/ (ˈpʌpɪt) /
noun
a small doll or figure of a person or animal moved by strings attached to its limbs or by the hand inserted in its cloth body
(as modifier)a puppet theatre
a person, group, state, etc, that appears independent but is in fact controlled by another
(as modifier)a puppet government
Word Origin for puppet
C16 popet, perhaps from Old French poupette little doll, ultimately from Latin pūpa girl, doll