Etymology: Origin unknown.Perhaps compare pug v.², although this is first attested much later.

Etymology: Origin unknown. It is not certain that the senses at branch II. represent the same word, although if the semantic feature ‘small’ is central to the senses at branch II. this would perhaps provide a semantic link with senses 1a and 2a. Perhaps compare Dutch regional (West Flemish) pugge (adjective) small, (noun) person of small stature; also used as a pet name, substituting for a person's forename (as Pugge ). Slightly earlier currency in sense 1a is implied by pugs n.In sense 6 probably influenced semantically by puck n.¹ (although it seems unlikely that it shows a phonological variant of that word); at least in the earliest uses in this sense, the semantic feature ‘small’ seems to be prominent, suggesting development from the other senses at branch II. The graphic resemblance of Dutch putger (variant of putjer ship's boy, sailor of the lowest rank) in the passage translated in quot. 1598 at sense 2a is probably purely coincidental. N.E.D. (1909) gave the following quot. as apparently the earliest example of sense 1b, but this is unlikely. It may perhaps refer to a salmon (see sense 4a):1600 R. Cecil Lett. 24 Sept. (1864) 33 If you did..remember the Lo. Admyrall and the Lord Threasurer with a couple of Pugges or some vscough baugh, or some such toyes, it would shew that you do not neglect them, whoe, I protest, are to you wonderfull kynde.

Etymology: < Hindi pag, ultimately < Sanskrit pādāgra < pāda leg, foot + agra end.The shortening of the vowel in Hindi may represent earlier transmission via Old Panjabi *pagg (compare informal Gujarati pāg and Old Awadhi paiga foot) or regular shortening of pretonic pāg- in derivatives and compounds, as well as avoidance of homonymy with pagg, pāg turban.

Etymology: Origin uncertain; apparently related to pug v.² (compare senses 2 and 4 at that entry). Compare earlier pug mill n., pugging n.¹ 1, pug cylinder n.In sense 2 apparently short for pug mill n.

Etymology: Shortened < pugilist n., with pronunciation corresponding to the written form.

Etymology: Origin unknown.In sense 2 perhaps influenced by pug v.², pug n.⁴, or puggy adj.²

Etymology: Origin uncertain; perhaps compare Dutch regional (southern) puggen to hit hard, to hit with force (perhaps ultimately imitative); alternatively, perhaps compare poke v.¹ Compare slightly earlier pugging n.¹ and later pug n.⁴ and pug mill n.It is not entirely certain that the three sense branches all show the same word. For the association with clay (compare branch III.), perhaps compare puggy adj.²

Etymology: < pug n.³ Compare earlier pugging n.³