pug

Origin unknown, possibly related to West Flemish pugge (“(adjective) small; (noun) short person; pet name derived from the first name Pugge”); though it is uncertain whether sense 1 (“senses relating to someone or something small”) and sense 2 (“senses relating to people”) are derived from the same source.

Etymology 1 sense 1.8 (“small demon”) was probably influenced by, though not a variant of, puck.

Acronym of pickup group.

Clipping of pugilist.

The origin of the verb is uncertain; it is possibly:

related to southern Dutch puggen (“to hit hard”), German pucken (“to beat, thump”), possibly ultimately imitative; or

related to poke (verb).

It is also uncertain whether the various senses are derived from the same source.

The origin of the noun is also uncertain; it is probably related to the verb.

Origin unknown; etymology 6 sense 1.2 (“to spoil (something) by touching too much”) is possibly influenced by pug (verb, noun) (see etymology 5) or puggy.

From Late Middle English pugge (“husk of grain”); further etymology unknown, possibly related to pug (verb) (see etymology 5). However, the latter is only attested much later.