- whelp (n.)
- Old English hwelp "whelp, young of the dog," from a Germanic root related to Old Saxon hwelp, Old Norse hvelpr, Dutch welp, German hwelf; of unknown origin. Now largely displaced by puppy. Also applied to wild animals. Sense of "scamp" first recorded early 14c.
- whelp (v.)
- c. 1200, from whelp (n.). Related: Whelped; whelping.
