Originally northern dialectal, from Scots pet (“an animal that has been tamed and is kept as a pet; a darling or favourite; a petted or spoiled child”), probably from Scottish Gaelic peata (“pet, tamed animal, spoiled child”), from Middle Irish petta, peta (“pet, lap-dog”), of uncertain origin, possibly from a pre-Indo-European substrate. Compare also peat (“pet, darling, woman”), which is likely not related.
The verb is derived from the noun.
Meanings
(figuratively, not-comparable) Favourite; cherished; the focus of one's (usually positive) attention.
The professor seemed offended by the criticism of her pet theory.
But these digital currencies[…] have now become a pet project of the US administration and a hot topic in corporate boardrooms. 2025 July 5, Philip Stafford, Akila Quinio, “Stablecoins begin to enter the mainstream with backing from Trump administration”, in FT Weekend, London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 11:
In an interview with Flying magazine, Heberding commented that her pet annoyance was "the reluctance of people generally to accept a woman whether as a pilot or a preflight inspector." 1991, Deborah G. Douglas, United States Women in Aviation, 1940-1985, page 9:
Discussing a favourite book, JW Dunne's An Experiment with Time—a 1927 study by an English aeronautical engineer who developed his own pet theories about dreams, perception and reality—he [Gaspar Noé] sounds like an earnest young philosophy student. 2002 August 2, Geoffrey Macnab, “'The rape had to be disgusting to be useful'”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
a pet child
Some young lady's pet curate. 1886, Frederic Harrison, The Choice of Books:
a pet project
Major Butler has a pet grievance and a pet aversion, which he forces on the reader in every chapter, and which becomes at last very wearisome. 1875, William Conant Church, The Galaxy, page 141:
(literally, not-comparable) Kept or treated as a pet.
pet rock
(not-comparable, obsolete) Good; ideal.
“Now,” said Hands, “look there; there’s a pet bit for to beach a ship in. Fine flat sand, never a cat's paw, trees all around of it, and flowers a-blowing like a garding on that old ship.” 1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC:
hu szeretett (favourite; cherished) · es favorido (disused) (favourite; cherished) · pt de estimação (kept or treated as a pet) · fr de compagnie (kept or treated as a pet) · cy anwes (kept or treated as a pet) · hu házi- (kept or treated as a pet) · bg любим (favourite; cherished) · es personal (favourite; cherished) · hu imádott (favourite; cherished) · fr fétiche (favourite; cherished) · bg домашен (kept or treated as a pet)
Originally northern dialectal, from Scots pet (“an animal that has been tamed and is kept as a pet; a darling or favourite; a petted or spoiled child”), probably from Scottish Gaelic peata (“pet, tamed animal, spoiled child”), from Middle Irish petta, peta (“pet, lap-dog”), of uncertain origin, possibly from a pre-Indo-European substrate. Compare also peat (“pet, darling, woman”), which is likely not related.
The verb is derived from the noun.
Meanings
An animal kept as a companion or otherwise for pleasure, rather than for some practical benefit or use.
family pet, pet cat, pet dog, pet store
My dog Fido has been a loyal pet for ten years.
(broadly) Something kept as a companion, including inanimate objects.
pet plant, pet rock
Papyrus: This is my brother's pet rock. He always forgets to feed it. As usual, I have to take responsibility. 2015 September 15, Toby Fox, Undertale, Linux, Microsoft Windows, OS X:
One who is excessively loyal to a superior and receives preferential treatment.
Any person or animal especially cherished and indulged; a darling.
At first she sat silent; but that could not last: she had resolved to make a pet of her little cousin, as she would have him to be; and she commenced stroking his curls, and kissing his cheek, and offering him tea in her saucer, like a baby. 1847 December, Ellis Bell [pseudonym; Emily Brontë], chapter XIX, in Wuthering Heights: […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Thomas Cautley Newby, […], →OCLC:
the love of cronies, pets, and favourites 1710 December 31 (Gregorian calendar), Isaac Bickerstaff [et al., pseudonyms; Richard Steele et al.], “Wednesday, December 21, 1710”, in The Tatler, number 266; republished in [Richard Steele], editor, The Tatler, […], London stereotype edition, volume III, London: I. Walker and Co.; […], 1822, →OCLC:
nl lievelingetje (one who is excessively loyal to a superior and receives preferential treatment) · de Haustier (an animal kept as a companion) · sh мезимац (one who is excessively loyal to a superior and receives preferential treatment) · et lemmikloom (an animal kept as a companion) · pt animal doméstico (an animal kept as a companion) · ka შინაური ცხოველი (an animal kept as a companion) · hu házi kedvenc (an animal kept as a companion) · sq manar (an animal kept as a companion) · fi lemmikkieläin (an animal kept as a companion) · pl zwierzątko (an animal kept as a companion) · de Liebling (person or animal especially cherished) · fa حیوان خانگی (an animal kept as a companion) · nl troeteldier (an animal kept as a companion) · pt animal de companhia (an animal kept as a companion) · bg дома́шен люби́мец (an animal kept as a companion) · sl hišni ljubljenček (an animal kept as a companion) · ru фавори́т (one who is excessively loyal to a superior and receives preferential treatment) · pdt Hustia (an animal kept as a companion) · it cocco (person or animal especially cherished) · es animal doméstico (an animal kept as a companion) · ru люби́мчик (person or animal especially cherished) · mk домашен миленик (an animal kept as a companion) · be гадава́нец (an animal kept as a companion) · sv gullegris (person or animal especially cherished) · cs domácí mazlíček (an animal kept as a companion) · ro animal de companie (an animal kept as a companion) · sc cuccu (person or animal especially cherished) · sv husdjur (an animal kept as a companion) · sh mezimac (one who is excessively loyal to a superior and receives preferential treatment) · uk вихова́нець (an animal kept as a companion) · sh љубимац (one who is excessively loyal to a superior and receives preferential treatment) · is gæludýr (an animal kept as a companion) · uk сві́йська твари́на (an animal kept as a companion) · uk твари́на-вихова́нець (an animal kept as a companion) · hu talpnyaló (one who is excessively loyal to a superior and receives preferential treatment) · cmn 跟屁蟲 /跟屁虫 (one who is excessively loyal to a superior and receives preferential treatment) · sc gigi (person or animal especially cherished) · mn тэжээвэр амьтан (an animal kept as a companion) · la animal domesticum (an animal kept as a companion) · es animal acompañante (an animal kept as a companion) · it animale domestico (an animal kept as a companion) · uk пито́мець (an animal kept as a companion) · ru люби́мец (person or animal especially cherished) · sh миљеник (one who is excessively loyal to a superior and receives preferential treatment) · hu kedvenc (an animal kept as a companion) · mk домашно милениче (an animal kept as a companion) · km សត្វចិញ្ចឹម (an animal kept as a companion) · pl zwierzę domowe (an animal kept as a companion) · lo ສັດລ້ຽງ (an animal kept as a companion) · sc preferidu (person or animal especially cherished) · sc beneaminu (person or animal especially cherished) · la animal mānsuētum (an animal kept as a companion) · sw mnyama wa nyumbani (an animal kept as a companion) · ta செல்லம் (person or animal especially cherished) · lt kambarinis gyvulėlis (an animal kept as a companion) · gl animal de compañía (an animal kept as a companion) · mk љуби́мец (one who is excessively loyal to a superior and receives preferential treatment) · es animal de compañía (an animal kept as a companion) · mk мињо́н (one who is excessively loyal to a superior and receives preferential treatment) · sl domača žival (an animal kept as a companion) · ca animal de companyia (an animal kept as a companion) · de Lieblingstier (an animal kept as a companion) · ru живо́тное-компаньо́н (an animal kept as a companion) · es mascota (an animal kept as a companion) · sk domáce zviera (an animal kept as a companion) · zu isilwane sasekhaya (an animal kept as a companion) · it animale d'affezione (an animal kept as a companion) · nn kjæledyr (an animal kept as a companion) · gl mascota (an animal kept as a companion) · hi पालतू पशु (an animal kept as a companion) · pt pet (an animal kept as a companion) · vo nimül (an animal kept as a companion) · sv keldjur (an animal kept as a companion) · it animale da compagnia (an animal kept as a companion) · be любі́мец (an animal kept as a companion) · cy anifail anwes (an animal kept as a companion) · ru люби́мец (an animal kept as a companion) · el κατοικίδιο (an animal kept as a companion) · eo dombesto (an animal kept as a companion) · hu drága (person or animal especially cherished) · th สัตว์เลี้ยง (an animal kept as a companion) · sh мезимац (an animal kept as a companion) · sc animale de domo (an animal kept as a companion) · it preferito (person or animal especially cherished) · fa خانگی (an animal kept as a companion) · sc ciccíu (person or animal especially cherished) · de Stubentier (an animal kept as a companion) · ojb bami'aagaans (an animal kept as a companion) · de Liebling (one who is excessively loyal to a superior and receives preferential treatment) · cs domácí zvíře (an animal kept as a companion) · tk öý haýwanlary (an animal kept as a companion) · vi thú cưng (an animal kept as a companion) · sq kafshë shtëpie (an animal kept as a companion) · uk твари́нка (an animal kept as a companion) · de Heimtier (an animal kept as a companion) · pt animal de estimação (an animal kept as a companion) · uk дома́шня твари́на (an animal kept as a companion) · pl zwierzak (an animal kept as a companion) · be ха́тні гадуне́ц (an animal kept as a companion) · ru дома́шнее живо́тное (an animal kept as a companion) · ja 愛玩動物 (an animal kept as a companion) · fr animal domestique (an animal kept as a companion) · sh ljubimac (one who is excessively loyal to a superior and receives preferential treatment) · fi lemmikki (an animal kept as a companion) · nl huisdier (an animal kept as a companion) · mi takawairore (person or animal especially cherished) · zu ukunto (an animal kept as a companion) · sc animale ammasedadu (an animal kept as a companion) · lv mājdzīvnieks (an animal kept as a companion) · be жывёла-кампаньён (an animal kept as a companion) · nb kjæledyr (an animal kept as a companion) · eo dorlotbesto (an animal kept as a companion) · da kæledyr (an animal kept as a companion) · lt augintinis (an animal kept as a companion) · it prediletto (person or animal especially cherished) · es animal acompañador (an animal kept as a companion) · ar حَيَوَان مَنْزَلِيّ (an animal kept as a companion) · ru люби́мчик (one who is excessively loyal to a superior and receives preferential treatment) · sh mezimac (an animal kept as a companion) · uk твари́на-компаньйо́н (an animal kept as a companion) · nv łį́į́ʼ (an animal kept as a companion) · mi mōkai (an animal kept as a companion) · ko 애완동물 (an animal kept as a companion) · sc beniaminu (person or animal especially cherished) · sc fizu de sa pudda bianca (person or animal especially cherished) · zu ukuntoko (an animal kept as a companion) · sh miljenik (one who is excessively loyal to a superior and receives preferential treatment) · gl animal de compaña (an animal kept as a companion) · ms binatang manja (an animal kept as a companion) · ka მოშინაურებული ცხოველი (an animal kept as a companion) · ja ペット (an animal kept as a companion) · la dēliciae (person or animal especially cherished) · la grātiōsus (one who is excessively loyal to a superior and receives preferential treatment) · fr animal de compagnie (an animal kept as a companion) · tr evcil hayvan (an animal kept as a companion) · sc ciccíu de domo (person or animal especially cherished) · sc animale masedu (an animal kept as a companion) · izh ellään (an animal kept as a companion) · hu kiskedvenc (one who is excessively loyal to a superior and receives preferential treatment) · sc animale de cumpagnia (an animal kept as a companion) · eo hejmbesto (an animal kept as a companion) · fr chouchou (person or animal especially cherished) · mi maimoa (an animal kept as a companion) · hu kisállat (an animal kept as a companion) · ta செல்லப்பிராணி (an animal kept as a companion) · ta வளர்ப்பு விலங்கு (an animal kept as a companion) · it coccolo (person or animal especially cherished) · la animal familiāre (an animal kept as a companion) · ga peata (an animal kept as a companion) · uk улю́бленець (an animal kept as a companion) · it beniamino (person or animal especially cherished) · hu háziállat (an animal kept as a companion) · ca mascota (an animal kept as a companion) · he חיית מחמד \ חַיַּת מַחְמָד (an animal kept as a companion) · bg пито́мец (an animal kept as a companion) · af troeteldier (an animal kept as a companion) · vi vật cưng (an animal kept as a companion) · hu kedves (person or animal especially cherished) · de Pet (one who is excessively loyal to a superior and receives preferential treatment) · ko 반려동물 (an animal kept as a companion) · ko 펫 (an animal kept as a companion) · id hewan peliharaan (an animal kept as a companion) · sh љубимац (an animal kept as a companion) · gl animal doméstico (an animal kept as a companion) · sh ljubimac (an animal kept as a companion) · hu nyalonc (one who is excessively loyal to a superior and receives preferential treatment) · rsk любимец (an animal kept as a companion) · ar حَيَوَان أَلِيف (an animal kept as a companion) · be сво́йскі гадава́нец (an animal kept as a companion) · es animal de compaña (an animal kept as a companion) · ru пито́мец (an animal kept as a companion) · sv sällskapsdjur (an animal kept as a companion) · be ха́тняя жывёла (an animal kept as a companion) · bg любимец (one who is excessively loyal to a superior and receives preferential treatment) · it favorito (person or animal especially cherished) · cmn 寵物 /宠物 (an animal kept as a companion) · fi lellikki (one who is excessively loyal to a superior and receives preferential treatment) · eo karulo (person or animal especially cherished) · sv kelgris (person or animal especially cherished) · fr animal familier (an animal kept as a companion) · hu kis kedvenc (an animal kept as a companion) · ms haiwan peliharaan (an animal kept as a companion)
Originally northern dialectal, from Scots pet (“an animal that has been tamed and is kept as a pet; a darling or favourite; a petted or spoiled child”), probably from Scottish Gaelic peata (“pet, tamed animal, spoiled child”), from Middle Irish petta, peta (“pet, lap-dog”), of uncertain origin, possibly from a pre-Indo-European substrate. Compare also peat (“pet, darling, woman”), which is likely not related.
The verb is derived from the noun.
Meanings
(transitive) To stroke or fondle (an animal).
I really love to pet cute puppies.
(informal, intransitive, transitive) To stroke or fondle (another person) amorously.
So we kissed + petted for about 15 mins. + he still wasn't hard, altho he acted like he was enjoying himself. 1973 September 18, Lou Sullivan, Diary:
We started petting each other the moment we were alone.
(dated, transitive) To keep or treat (an animal) as a pet.
Deer are often tamed and petted, and their flesh is so much esteemed by all Malays, that it is very natural they should endeavour to introduce them into the remote islands in which they settled, and whose luxuriant forests seem so well adapted for their subsistence. 1869, Alfred Russel Wallace, The Malay Archipelago, volume II, London: Macmillan and Co., page 140:
(dated, transitive) To treat (someone) as a pet; to fondle; to indulge.
His daughter was petted and spoiled.
[…] the American dramatist has had to waste most of his first act elaborately planting the information that his Mister Quex is rich, petted by Society, and altogether more spectacular than the common run of men. 1919 August, P. G. Wodehouse, “Prohibition and the Drama”, in Vanity Fair, page 21:
(archaic, intransitive) To be a pet.
(archaic, intransitive) To be peevish; to sulk.
He sure is queasie stomach't that must pet, and puke, at such a trivial circumstance 1623, Owen Feltham, Resolves: Divine, Moral, Political:
pat (to stroke or fondle an animal) · smooth (to stroke or fondle an animal) · pout (to be peevish) · touch up · cosset · feel up (to stroke or fondle amorously) · coddle (to treat as a pet) · mope (to be peevish) · grope
A fit of petulance, a sulk, arising from the impression that one has been offended or slighted.
There was something ludicrous, even more, unbecoming a gentleman, in leaving a friend's house in a pet, with the host's reproaches sounding in his ears, to be matched only by the bitterness of the guest's sneering retorts. 1891, Mary Noailles Murfree, In the "Stranger People's" Country, Nebraska, published 2005, page 105:
Buck Mulligan sat down in a sudden pet. 1922 February 2, James Joyce, “[Episode 1]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company […], →OCLC:
His genius at this time was of a decidedly gloomy cast. He brought his mother a tragedy, in which, though he killed sixteen people before the second act, it made her laugh so, that he thrust the masterpiece into the fire in a pet. 1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 3, in The History of Pendennis. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1849–1850, →OCLC: