puppet
NounOpen English WordNet
Noun (3)puppets
- a small figure of a person operated from above with strings by a puppeteerSynonyms: marionetteType of figure
- a person who is controlled by others and is used to perform unpleasant or dishonest tasks for someone elseSynonyms: creaturetoolType of slave
- a doll with a hollow head of a person or animal and a cloth body; intended to fit over the hand and be manipulated with the fingersType of doll, dollyKinds hand puppet, glove puppet
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: OE. popet, OF. poupette; akin to F. poupée a doll, probably from L. puppa, pupa, a girl, doll, puppet. Cf. Poupeton, Pupa, Pupil, Puppy.
1. A small image in the human form; a doll.
2. A similar figure moved by the hand or by a wire in a mock drama; a marionette; a wooden actor in a play.
At the pipes of some carved organ move, The gilded puppets dance.— Alexander Pope
3. One controlled in his action by the will of another; a tool; — so used in contempt. Sir Walter Scott
4. Machinery The upright support for the bearing of the spindle in a lathe.
Puppet master. Same as Puppetman. — Puppet play, a puppet show. — Puppet player, one who manages the motions of puppets. — Puppet show, a mock drama performed by puppets moved by wires. — Puppet valve, a valve in the form of a circular disk, which covers a hole in its seat, and opens by moving bodily away from the seat while remaining parallel with it, — used in steam engines, pumps, safety valves, etc. Its edge is often beveled, and fits in a conical recess in the seat when the valve is closed. See the valves shown in Illusts. of Plunger pump, and Safety valve, under Plunger, and Safety.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54