Etymology

pooh

P3O1O1H4

Today it means: Expressing dismissal, contempt, impatience, etc. Full definition →

French puer
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The story

  1. French · derived frompuer“to stink”
  2. English todaypooh

Originally onomatopoeic ("perhaps ancient" according to Online Etymology Dictionary) for a puff of air, after earlier poh and similar to later pew, phew, pho, phoo, poof. Later influenced by poop, onomatopoeic for the sound of flatulating and defecating, and by interjections of disgust similar to phew, pee-ew. Interjection for an unpleasant smell possibly linked to French puer (“to stink”).

Words from the same roots

Frenchpuer all →

puerP U

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.