WHELP

n. v.

6 definitions — Webster’s Dictionary (1828)

1.
n.

One of the young of a dog or a beast of prey; a puppy; a cub; as, a lion's whelps. "A bear robbed of her whelps." 2 Sam. xvii. 8.

2.
n.

A child; a youth; -- jocosely or in contempt. That awkward whelp with his money bags would have made his entrance. Addison.

3.
n.

One of the longitudinal ribs or ridges on the barrel of a capstan or a windless; -- usually in the plural; as, the whelps of a windlass.

4.
n.

One of the teeth of a sprocket wheel.

5.
v.

To bring forth young; -- said of the female of the dog and some beasts of prey.

6.
v.

To bring forth, as cubs or young; to give birth to. Unless she had whelped it herself, she could not have loved a thing better. B. Jonson. Did thy foul fancy whelp so black a scheme Young.

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