'Babytalk' names for animals.

ipek | 10:26 Mon 27th Oct 2003 | Phrases & Sayings

5 Answers

Where do we get the terms 'pussy' for cat, 'bunny' for rabbit and 'gee-gee' for horse from? Amazing what comes into your head as you drive to worrk..........

Shoe

John Lennon????

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Quizmonster

Originally, 'puss' was just a call-sound for a cat...ie little more than a psss-sound to attract it to you. By the 1500s, it had become a generalised name for a cat. The final 'y' was added later as a form of childish diminutive.

'Bunny' for rabbit first appeared in print in a dictionary of slang published in 1690. Even earlier than that, it was a simple term of endearment for a woman, much along the same lines as 'honey'.

'Gee-gee' is also a childish word for a horse, probably invented on the basis of the phrase "Gee up!" used to get a horse moving. In fact, 'gee' was a verb that meant 'move' originally.

ipek

Question Author

Thanks QM - I knew you wouldn't let me down......

coggles

...and when you are trying to teach your children the correct name for these animals, some bright spark comes up and says 'can you see the moo moos....... it infuriates me!

coggles

I wasn't having a go at you with my answer!

ipek

Question Author

It's OK coggles, with 2 young grandchildren, I know exactly what you mean......no offence taken m'dear!

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