pussy

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈpʊsɪ/
• (General American) enPR: po͝osʹi, IPA^(key): /ˈpʊsi/

• Audio (US, Northern California)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ʊsi
• Hyphenation: pus‧sy

Noun

pussy (plural pussies)

1. (informal) An affectionate term for a cat. [from 17th c.]
   • 2007, Liz Jones, "Are cats the new dogs?", The Independent, 17 Nov 07:

     And although, as someone recently said to me, they are not "designer" (she had expected my pussies to be expensive, with a pedigree), to me my cats are the most beautiful in the world.

2. (colloquial, now rare) An affectionate term for a woman or girl, seen as having characteristics associated with cats such as sweetness. [from 16th c.]
   • 2010, Jojo Moyes, "Why love letters are better left unread", The Telegraph, 3 Jun 2010:

     If Lloyd George’s endearments to mistress Frances Stevenson – “My darling Pussy. You might phone… on Friday if you can come. Don’t let Hankey see you” – had been made similarly public, would he have maintained his own reputation as a towering statesman?

3. (vulgar, slang) The female genitalia; the vulva and/or vagina. [from 17th c.]

   You have a lovely pussy!

4. Anything soft and furry; a bloom form, or catkin, as on the pussy willow. [from 19th c.]
5. (vulgar, slang, uncountable) Sexual intercourse with a woman. [from 20th c.]

   I’m gonna get me some pussy tonight.

6. (pejorative, vulgar, slang, chiefly Canada, US) A coward; a weakling; someone who is unable to stand up for him- or herself. [from 20th c.]

   You're such a pussy!

   • 2007, Matt Keating, "Do everyone a favour and don't bring your cold to work", The Guardian, 26 Nov 07:

     I couldn't carry the burden of shame engendered by the bully-boy advertising of "max-strength" cold and flu remedies, the obvious subtext of which is "Get to work, you pussy."

7. (dated) A game of tip-cat.

Pronunciation

• enPR: pŭs'i, IPA^(key): /ˈpʌsi/

• Audio (US, Northern California)

  (file)

Adjective

pussy (comparative pussier, superlative pussiest)

1. (medicine) Containing pus.

Adjective

pussy (comparative more pussy, superlative most pussy)

1. (slang, dated) Alternative form of pursy