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pet(1) (iou)



pet noun1 & adjective. Orig. Scot. & north. E16.
[Origin unkn.]
A. noun.
An indulged or spoiled child; any person indulged or treated as a favourite; an obedient or obliging person (freq. as a term of endearment). Formerly also, (a name for) a person who is a favourite boxer. E16.
TEACHER's pet.
P. G. Wodehouse Do be a pet and..talk to Jane Hubbard...She must be feeling lonely. N. Podhoretz I was the special pet of numerous relatives. W. Trevor 'Are you rested, pet?' her mother inquired.
b. In full pet-day. A fine sunny day in the middle of a period of bad weather. Scot., Anglo-Irish, & Canad. E19.
An animal domesticated or tamed and kept for pleasure or companionship; spec. (Scot. & north.) a lamb brought up by hand. M16.
b. adjective.
Of an animal: kept as a pet. L16.
Beano I need the services of Joe, my pet crow!
Favourite, particular. E19.
C. Brooke-Rose I mustn't bore you with my pet theories. S. Naipaul Ralph had..succeeded in establishing himself as his pet architect.
b. That causes or involves especial dislike. joc. L19.
pet aversion, pet hate, pet peeve, etc.
Comb. & special collocations: pet-day: see sense A.1b above; pet-food: for pet animals; pet-form an alteration of a name used as a pet name; pet name a name expressing fondness or familiarity; pet-name verb trans. call by a pet name; pets' corner a part of a zoo etc. for animals normally kept as pets; pet-shop: selling animals to be kept as pets; pet-sitter a person who takes care of someone's pet(s) whilst they are away.