Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Whelp?

\Whelp\, n. [AS. hwelp; akin to D. welp, G. & OHG. welf, Icel. hvelpr, Dan. hvalp, Sw. valp.] 1. 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. A child; a youth; -- jocosely or in contempt. That awkward whelp with his money bags would have made his entrance. --Addison. 3. (Naut.) 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. One of the teeth of a sprocket wheel.
\Whelp\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Whelped}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Whelping}.] To bring forth young; -- said of the female of the dog and some beasts of prey.
\Whelp\, v. t. 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.