Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “underpuppy” come from?

underpuppy (English) comes from English puppy, from English puppie, from Middle French poupée, from Old French poupée, from Latin pupa, from Latin pupus, from Proto-Indo-European peh₂w- — few, little; smallness.

underpuppy (English): An underdog who is small, insignificant or both

Definitions

  1. An underdog who is small, insignificant or both

Ancestry of “underpuppy”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpuppyA young dog, especially before sexual maturity; A...
2EnglishpuppieObsolete form of puppy
3Middle Frenchpoupéedoll, toy
4Old Frenchpoupée—
5Latinpupagirl, little girl; doll, puppet; pupa
6Latinpupusa boy, a child; a puppet; the pupil of the eye
7Proto-Indo-Europeanpeh₂w-few, little; smallness
Every word from Proto-Indo-European peh₂w- →