puss

plural pusses

1. countableinformaloftenterm of addressuncountableA cat.

   Our local theatre is showing Puss in Boots.

   1 more example

   Come here, puss! I've got some milk for you.

   Synonyms: moggie, moggy

2. countabledatedendearinguncountableA girl or young woman, or any child.
3. countabledateduncountablehobbiesA hare.

   '[…] It won't kill Puss any better for that.' / "'But, goodness gracious, what can that hare be made of?' I asked.

   1881, P. Chr. Asbjörnsen [i.e., Peter Christen Asbjørnsen], “A Day with the Capercailzies”, in H. L. Brækstad, transl., Round the Yule Log. Norwegian Folk and Fairy Tales, London: Sampson Low, Marston, Searle, & Rivington, →OCLC, page 77

   2 more examples

   He then began to beat about, in the ſame Language, and in the ſame Manner, as if he had been beating for a Hare, and at laſt cried out, 'Soho! Puſs is not far off. Here's her Form, upon my Soul; I believe I may cry ſtole away.'

   1749, Henry Fielding, “In which is seen a more moving Spectacle, than all the Blood in the Bodies of Thwackum and Blifil and of Twenty other such, is capable of producing”, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume II, London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book V, page 220

   Mention a hare to Master Twyti and, although he would still go on galloping after the wretched hart which seemed to be his destiny, he would gallop with one eye over his shoulder yearning for puss.

   1958, T[erence] H[anbury] White, chapter 16, in The Once and Future King, New York, N.Y.: G. P. Putnam's Sons, →ISBN, book I (The Sword in the Stone)

4. countableslanguncountablevulgarThe vulva (female genitalia).
5. metonymicallyslanguncountablevulgarSex with a woman.

   So don't know! So, what are you gonna do? Sell your birthright for a little bit of puss?

   1986, Tim Kazurinsky, Denise DeClue, About Last Night, spoken by Bernie (Jim Belushi)

6. CanadaUScountableslanguncountablevulgarA coward; a wuss; someone who is unable to stand up for themselves.

plural pusses

1. slangThe mouth.

   Shut your puss before I shut it for you.

   1 more example

   Hubbert has a rasping voice and a razory laugh, and he's busy and theatrical in the worst way — a noisy performing pro with whirlwind arms and a saturnine puss.

   1991, New York Magazine, volume 24, number 21, page 62

   Synonyms: cakehole, gob, mush, trap

2. slangThe face.

   She gave him a slap in the puss.

1. alternativeuncountableAlternative spelling of pus.

   It didn't move as much, and the same teary puss leaked from its eyes.

   2010 Alien Purgatory page 40

   2 more examples

   People called him Puss Head because if you crossed him, he went to great lengths to make sure that before you died, puss leaked from your head.

   2012 Southern Supposition page 132

   Puss leaked out from beneath white gauze on his back and trickled down his spine.

   2016 When Crickets Cry page 267