Whelp (?), n. [AS. hwelp; akin to D. welp, G. & OHG. welf, Icel. hvelpr, Dan. hvalp, Sw. valp.]
1.
One of the young of a dog or a beast of prey; a puppy; a cub; as, a lion's whelps.
"A bear robbed of her
whelps."
2 Sam. xvii. 8.
2.
A child; a youth; -- jocosely or in contempt.
That awkward whelp with his money bags would have made his entrance.
Addison.
3. Naut.
One of the longitudinal ribs or ridges on the barrel of a capstan or a windless; -- usually in the plural; as, the whelps of a windlass.
4.
One of the teeth of a sprocket wheel.
© Webster 1913.
Whelp, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Whelped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Whelping.]
To bring forth young; -- said of the female of the dog and some beasts of prey.
© Webster 1913.
Whelp, v. t.
To bring forth, as cubs or young; to give birth to.
Unless she had whelped it herself, she could not have loved a thing better.
B. Jonson.
Did thy foul fancy whelp so black a scheme?
Young.
© Webster 1913.