What is "pet"

pet \pet\ (p[e^]t), n. [Formerly peat, perhaps from Ir. peat, akin to Gael. peata.]

1. A cade lamb; a lamb brought up by hand.

2. Any person especially cherished and indulged; a fondling; a darling; often, a favorite child.

   The love of cronies, pets, and favorites.
   --Tatler.

3. [Prob. fr. Pet a fondling, hence, the behavior or humor of a spoiled child.] A slight fit of peevishness or fretfulness. ``In a pet she started up.''
   --Tennyson.

4. Any animal kept as a companion, usually in or around one's home, typically domesticated and cared for attentively and often affectionately. Distinguished from animals raised for food or to perform useful tasks, as a draft animal.

pet \pet\, a. Petted; indulged; admired; cherished; as, a pet child; a pet lamb; a pet theory; a pet animal.

Some young lady's pet curate.
--F. Harrison.

Pet cock. [Perh. for petty cock.] (Mach.) A little faucet in a water pipe or pump, to let air out, or at the end of a steam cylinder, to drain it.

"tamed animal," originally in Scottish and northern England dialect (and exclusively so until mid-18c.), of unknown origin. Sense of "indulged child" (c.1500) is recorded slightly earlier than that of "animal kept as a favorite" (1530s), but the latter may be the primary meaning. Probably associated with or influenced by petty. As a term of endearment by 1849. Teacher's pet is attested from 1890. Pet-shop from 1928.\n\nKnow nature's children all divide her care;\n
The fur that warms a monarch warm'd a bear.\n
While man exclaims, 'See all things for my use!'\n
'See man for mine!' replies a pamper'd goose: \n

\n

[Alexander Pope, "Essay on Man"]

"peevishness, offense at feeling slighted," 1580s, in phrase take the pet "take offense." Perhaps from pet (n.1) on a similar notion to that in American English that gets my goat, but the underlying notion is obscure, and the form of the original expression makes this doubtful. This word seems to have been originally a southern English term, while pet (n.1) was northern and Scottish.

1620s, "treat as a pet," from pet (n.1). Sense of "to stroke" is first found 1818. Slang sense of "kiss and caress" is from 1920 (implied in petting). Related: Petted.\n\n

Etymology 1

1. Favourite; cherished. n. 1 An animal kept as a companion. 2 One who is excessively loyal to a superior. 3 Any person or animal especially cherished and indulged; a darling. v

2. 1 (context transitive English) To stroke or fondle (an animal). 2 (context transitive informal English) To stroke or fondle (another person) amorously. 3 (context intransitive informal English) Of two or more people, to stroke and fondle one another amorously. 4 (context dated transitive English) To treat as a pet; to fondle; to indulge. 5 (context archaic intransitive English) To be a pet. Etymology 2

   n. A fit of petulance, a sulk, arising from the impression that one has been offended or slighted. Etymology 3

   n. (abbreviation of petition English) Etymology 4

   n. (context Geordie English) A term of endearment usually applied to women and children.

1. adj. preferred above all others and treated with partiality; "the favored child" [syn: favored, favorite(a), favourite(a), preferred]

2. [also: petting, petted]

1. n. a domesticated animal kept for companionship or amusement

2. a special loved one [syn: darling, favorite, favourite, dearie, deary, ducky]

3. a fit of petulance or sulkiness (especially at what is felt to be a slight)

4. using a computerized radiographic technique to examine the metabolic activity in various tissues (especially in the brain) [syn: positron emission tomography]

5. [also: petting, petted]

1. v. stroke or caress gently; "pet the lamb"

2. stroke or caress in an erotic manner, as during lovemaking

3. [also: petting, petted]

A pet or companion animal is an animal kept primarily for a person's company or protection, as opposed to working animals, sport animals, livestock, and laboratory animals, which are kept primarily for performance, agricultural value, or research. The most popular pets are noted for their attractive appearances and their loyal or playful personalities.

Pets provide their owners (or guardians) physical and emotional benefits. Walking a dog can supply both the human and pet with exercise, fresh air, and social interaction. Pets can give companionship to elderly adults who do not have adequate social interaction with other people, as well as other people that are living alone. There is a medically approved class of therapy animals, mostly dogs or cats, that are brought to visit confined humans. Pet therapy utilizes trained animals and handlers to achieve specific physical, social, cognitive, and emotional goals with patients.

The most popular pets are likely dogs and cats, but people also keep house rabbits, ferrets; rodents such as gerbils, hamsters, chinchillas, fancy rats, and guinea pigs; avian pets, such as canaries, parakeets, corvids and parrots; reptile pets, such as turtles, lizards and snakes; aquatic pets, such as goldfish, tropical fish and frogs; and arthropod pets, such as tarantulas and hermit crabs.

Some scholars and animal rights organizations have raised concern over pet-keeping with regards to the autonomy and objectification of nonhuman animals.

Pet is the debut album by New Zealand rock band, Fur Patrol, released in 2000.

Pet is an upcoming 2016 United States/Spain psychological thriller film written by Jeremy Slater, directed by Carles Torrens, and starring Dominic Monaghan, Ksenia Solo, Jennette McCurdy, and Nathan Parsons. The project debuted at the South by Southwest Film festival during March 2016.