Wiktionary:Word of the day/2024/August 26

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pug n

Senses relating to someone or something small. In full pug dog: a small dog of an ancient breed originating in China, having a snub nose, wrinkled face, squarish body, short smooth hair, and curled tail. In full pug moth, often with a descriptive word: any geometrid moth of the tribe Eupitheciini, especially the genus Eupithecia; a geometer moth. (clothing, historical) In full pug hood: a hood, sometimes with a short cloak attached, worn by women around the middle of the 18th century. (rail transport) In full pug engine: a small locomotive chiefly used for shunting (“moving trains from one track to another, or carriages from one train to another”). (UK, regional, archaic) Also used as a proper name: any of various animals, such as a ferret, hare, squirrel, or young salmon. (specifically) Synonym of teg (“a sheep (originally a ewe) in its second year, or from the time it is weaned until it is first shorn”) (specifically, obsolete) An ape, a monkey; also (by extension) a human child. (specifically, obsolete) A fox. (UK, regional, rare) A person or thing that is squat (“broad and short”). (US, regional) A bun or knot of hair; also, a piece of cloth or snood for holding this in place. (obsolete) A small demon; an imp, a puck, a sprite. [...] Today is National Dog Day in the USA, which was established by the American animal welfare advocate Colleen Paige.

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