The Collaborative International Dictionary
Puppet \Pup"pet\, n. [OE. popet, OF. poupette; akin to F. poup['e]e a doll, probably from L. puppa, pupa, a girl, doll, puppet. Cf. Poupeton, Pupa, Pupil, Puppy.] [Written also poppet.]
A small image in the human form; a doll.
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A similar figure moved by the hand or by a wire in a mock drama; a marionette; a wooden actor in a play.
At the pipes of some carved organ move, The gilded puppets dance.
--Pope. One controlled in his action by the will of another; a tool; -- so used in contempt.
--Sir W. Scott.-
(Mach.) The upright support for the bearing of the spindle in a lathe.
Puppet master. Same as Puppetman.
Puppet play, a puppet show.
Puppet player, one who manages the motions of puppets.
Puppet show, a mock drama performed by puppets moved by wires.
Puppet valve, a valve in the form of a circular disk, which covers a hole in its seat, and opens by moving bodily away from the seat while remaining parallel with it, -- used in steam engines, pumps, safety valves, etc. Its edge is often beveled, and fits in a conical recess in the seat when the valve is closed. See the valves shown in Illusts. of Plunger pump, and Safety valve, under Plunger, and Safety.
WordNet
n. a show in which the actors are puppets [syn: puppet show]
Usage examples of "puppet play".
It was not long after that both she and Peottre excused themselves from attending a puppet play on the grounds that the Narcheska was weary and Peottre must attend to their packing.
Then he recalled the sense of mistrust he had noticed in the crowd when the puppet play began, the feeling from the townspeople that had puzzled him at the time.
The Witch didn't want to think about yesterday, the death of Madame Mornble, the accusations made by the puppet play.
What I witnessed that evening was as cleverly paced and carefully led as a puppet play.
The bureaucrat remembered seeing it last night, shutters open and a puppet play in progress.
And no doubt each cast included the same character types, as in Noh drama or a puppet play.