hwelp

hwelp

1. (Early Middle English) Alternative form of whelp

From Proto-Germanic *hwelpaz.

• IPA^(key): /xwelp/, [ʍeɫp]

hwelp m

1. puppy
   • c. 990, Wessex Gospels, Matthew 15:27

     Þā hwelpas etaþ of þām crumum þe of heora hlāforda bēodum feallaþ.

     The puppies eat from the crumbs that fall from their owners' tables.

2. cub, pup
   • late 9th century, translation of Orosius' History Against the Pagans

     Sēo lēo bringþ hungrigum hwelpum hwæt tō etenne.

     The lion brings hungry cubs something to eat.

   • The Life of Malchus

     Wē ġesāwon þā lēon on þām eorþsċræfe mid hire hwelpum.

     We saw the lion in the cave with its cubs.

• It is unknown exactly which species of animal hwelp could describe and which it couldn't. In Old English, the word is attested for puppies, wolf pups, bear cubs, and lion cubs. In Middle English, it is attested for tiger cubs and baby monkeys as well.

• Note that some animals have a special word to designate their young. Such words include bridd (“chick”), bulluc (“male calf”), ċealf (“calf,” also used of fawns), fearh (“piglet”), fola (“foal,” also used of elephant and camel calves), lamb (“lamb”), tiċċen (“kid”), and trēowwyrm (“caterpillar”).

• hwelpian

• Middle English: whelp, hwelp, hweolp, whellp, ȝwelp; welp, whelpe, welpe, quelp, quelpe, qwelp, qwelpe
  • English: whelp
  • Scots: whalp, whaulp

From Proto-Germanic *hwelpaz.

hwelp m

1. a whelp, pup