whelps
/ˈwɛlps/ · whelps
noun
- A young offspring of a canid (or similar carnivorous mammal), especially a dog or wolf. The whelps yipped excitedly as their mother licked them clean.
- An insolent or mischievous youth; a mere child. The market vendor shooed the whelps who were darting between the stalls.
- A small, swift vessel, historically used for coastal patrol or transport. The navy dispatched a whelps to deliver supplies to the island outpost.
verb
- (of a she‑dog, she‑wolf, vixen, etc.) To give birth. Each spring the bitch whelps three healthy pups.
Did you know? The nautical sense of “whelps” dates back to the 17th century, when small, fast craft used to ferry newly‑born animals were nicknamed after the young they carried.