Pooh

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Pooh¹

  • /puː/ US

Rhymes with -uː

proper noun

  1. abbreviation, ellipsis Ellipsis of Winnie the Pooh.Winnie the Pooh

pooh²

  • /phuː/ UK
  • /puː/ UK
  • /pu/ US

Rhymes with -uː

Where it comes from

Originally onomatopoeic ("perhaps ancient" according to Online Etymology Dictionary) for a puff of air, after earlier poh and similar to later pew, phew, pho, phoo, poof. Later influenced by poop, onomatopoeic for the sound of flatulating and defecating, and by interjections of disgust similar to phew, pee-ew. Interjection for an unpleasant smell possibly linked to French puer (“to stink”).

interjection poo · puh · poogh · pugh

  1. Expressing dismissal, contempt, impatience, etc. I am carelesse what the fustie World speakes of me, puh.
  2. Expressing disgust at an unpleasant smell. Pooh!... How you smell of tobacco.
  3. alternative, euphemistic Alternative form of poo: a minced oath for 'shit'.poo Mom offers everybody fudge and says ‘Oh, pooh!’ when she gets upset.

Similar: feh, meh, pshaw, pish, bah, poh, eww, ick, uck

noun poohs · poo · puh · poogh · pugh

  1. countable An instance of saying "pooh". She […] hath ſtiled him with an immortall penne, the bawewawe of ſchollars, the tutt of gentlemen, the tee-heegh of gentlewomen, the phy of citizens, the blurt of Courtiers, the poogh of good letters, the faph of good manners, and the whoop-hooe of good boyes in London ſtreetes.
  2. alternative, childish, uncountable Alternative form of poo: feces.poo ‘You're rather in the pooh with the Adelaide police.’ ‘How much do I stink with them?’
  3. UK, alternative, childish, countable Alternative form of poo: A piece of feces; an act of defecation.poo

verb poohs · poohing · poohed · poo · puh

  1. intransitive To say "pooh". The wrimouth'd Crittick... That mewes, and puh's and shakes his brainelesse head...
  2. transitive To say "pooh" to. ‘Pooh! pooh!’ re-echoed his mother, ‘don't pooh me, John.’
  3. alternative, childish, intransitive Alternative form of poo: To defecate or dirty something with feces.poo My cat poohed in here.

Similar: pooh-pooh

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