an informal, affectionate word for a dog.
Origin uncertain, but possibly derived from or influenced by 'pooch,' a Yiddish word, or connected to the sound of calling a dog. It became popular in American English in the early 20th century. Some etymologists connect it to 'putsch' or other sound-based roots, but the true origin remains debated.
Nobody knows exactly where 'pooch' came from, but it perfectly captures the informal, loving tone we use with dogs—informal words often have mysterious origins because they're spoken before they're written! The word itself sounds like something you'd say while petting a dog.
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