whippet
oxford
views updated Jun 08 2018whip·pet / ˈ(h)wipit/ •
n. a dog of a small slender breed originally produced as a cross between the greyhound and the terrier or spaniel, bred for racing.ORIGIN: early 17th cent.: partly from obsolete whippet ‘move briskly.’
The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English
whippet
oxford
views updated May 14 2018whippet Sporting dog that was originally bred in
England for racing and hare coursing. It is capable of running at speeds of 56.5km/h (35mph). It resembles a small
greyhound. Height: to 56cm (22in) at the shoulder; weight: to 11kg (24lb).
World Encyclopedia
whippet
oxford
views updated May 17 2018whippet †lively young woman XVI; small breed of dog XVII. prob. f. †
whippet vb. move briskly (XVI), i.e.
whip it.
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD