Muppet

See also: muppet

English

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ʌpɪt

Etymology 1

Most likely a variant of moppet

Noun

Muppet (countable and uncountable, plural Muppets)

1. A term of endearment, used with a young girl
   • 1858, The National Magazine - Volumes 3-4, page 257:

     "Mamma, I see Mr. Joshua Parker coming up the road in his gray hat with the black band," announced the daughter emphatically, craning her neck to see over the evergreens. “Do you, Muppet? Then he is coming to call at the rectory; for he never wears his hat except when he is going to make a call, — and there is nowhere to call at but here."

   • 1997, Across the Rainbow, page 14:

     “I thought we were pretty happy the way we were,” Aunt Holly said, ruffling Jamie's hair. “I'm happy. Aren't you, Muppet?“

   • 2016, Bryan Whelan, The Boson Experiment and Earths End:

     You know my little Muppet, Abby may not be able to find out if there is anything untoward going on at the institute, but I sure can.

Etymology 2

Coined by Jim Henson as an alteration of puppet. Henson had claimed the word was a blend of marionette +‎ puppet, but later recanted.

Elmo, one of the Sesame Street Muppet characters, with performer Kevin Clash and Diane Sawyer in 2010.

Noun

Muppet (plural Muppets)

1. A type of puppet created by Jim Henson or his studio, typically operated with one hand of the puppeteer inside the head and a rod or glove to move one arm of the puppet.
2. One of a group of established puppet characters acting as a sort of repertory company on The Muppet Show, and/or appearing on Sesame Street.
3. (UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Eastern US, South Africa, slang, derogatory) Alternative form of muppet (fool).
   • 2008, Cathy Cassidy, Driftwood:

     'I'll come, if you like,' Paul says. 'I'm not asking you, Muppet,' Kit snaps.

   • 2011, Julian Hoxter, Write What You Don't Know, page 45:

     English version: I'm A Cockney Geezer, You Muppet. No, you are an upper middle class, public school educated wanker (it takes one to know one) and I feel I must apologize to everyone on behalf of the land of my birth for the many crimes to cinema committed in the wake of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998).

   • 2013, Guy Dance, Soul Brigade: The Mission of Light, page 245:

     She tilts her head towards him, and whispers in his ear, “Of course I do, you Muppet. I keep telling you to trust The Source and our guides; don't I?"

   • 2018, Peter D. Bull, Undercover, page 13:

     What's your fucking name you Muppet? I won't ask you again.

   • 2021, Margaret de Rohan, The Icarus Affair:

     Not that kind of atmosphere, you Muppet. A cut it with a knife atmosphere.

Usage notes

Puppets created by the Jim Henson Company following Disney's acquisition of the Muppets IP are not typically referred to as Muppets. Creations of Jim Henson's Creature Shop have never been considered Muppets.

Derived terms

• muppet
• Muppetlike
• Muppet News Flash
• row like a Muppet

Anagrams

• pumpet