puss1
/pʊs
/noun informal, chiefly British
1A cat.At the grand old age of 22, Wilhemina the puss has enjoyed more than her share of cat lives....
- Between 10 and 15 cats, including a pregnant puss, have been found dead near the intersection of Balmain Rd and Moore St in the past year.
- Apparently, her puss Fang soon tires of any particular flavor and makes life difficult at meal times.
1.1 [usually with modifier] A playful or coquettish girl or young woman.All the better for hearing that you're safe and well, puss....
- What made you think there's an intruder, puss?
- ‘Don't get all huffy, puss,’ Louis said gently.
Origin
Early 16th century: probably from Middle Low German pūs (also pūskatte) or Dutch poes, of unknown origin.
Rhymes
puss2
/pʊs/noun Irish & Scottish
A person’s face, mouth, or expression: they hush up with little smiles on their pusses look at the long puss on him—you’d think he’d be happy for his brother...
- There was nothing more exasperating than the snug puss of my Dublin work colleague as he entered the office the morning after.
- He had a right puss on him when he lifted it down off the stool.
- Everybody says she always had a puss on her face, and I always smiled.
Origin
Late 19th century: from Irish pus 'lip, mouth'.