whelp

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whelp / (h)welp/ • n. a puppy. ∎  a cub. ∎  a boy or young man (often as a disparaging form of address). ∎  (whelps) a set of projections on the barrel of a capstan or windlass, designed to reduce the slippage of a rope.• v. [tr.] (of a female dog) give birth to (a puppy): Copper whelped seven puppies | [intr.] a bitch due to whelp. PHRASES: in whelp (of a female dog) pregnant.