Etymology Originally northern dialectal, from Scots pet (“an animal that has been tamed and is kept as a pet; a darling or favourite; a petted or spoiled child”), probably from Scottish Gaelic peata (“pet, tamed animal, spoiled child”), from Middle Irish petta, peta (“pet, lap-dog”), of uncertain origin, possibly from a pre-Indo-European substrate. Compare also peat (“pet, darling, woman”), which is likely not related. The verb is derived from the noun.
1
An animal kept as a companion or otherwise for pleasure, rather than for some practical benefit or use.
My dog Fido has been a loyal pet for ten years.
family pet, pet cat, pet dog, pet store
2
Broadly Something kept as a companion, including inanimate objects.
pet plant, pet rock
Papyrus: This is my brother's pet rock. He always forgets to feed it. As usual, I have to take responsibility.2015 September 15, Toby Fox, Undertale, Linux, Microsoft Windows, OS X:
3
One who is excessively loyal to a superior and receives preferential treatment.
4
Any person or animal especially cherished and indulged; a darling.
At first she sat silent; but that could not last: she had resolved to make a pet of her little cousin, as she would have him to be; and she commenced stroking his curls, and kissing his cheek, and offering him tea in her saucer, like a baby.1847 December, Ellis Bell [pseudonym; Emily Brontë], chapter XIX, in Wuthering Heights: […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Thomas Cautley Newby, […], →OCLC:
the love of cronies, pets, and favourites1710 December 31 (Gregorian calendar), Isaac Bickerstaff [et al., pseudonyms; Richard Steele et al.], “Wednesday, December 21, 1710”, in The Tatler, number 266; republished in [Richard Steele], editor, The Tatler, […], London stereotype edition, volume III, London: I. Walker and Co.; […], 1822, →OCLC:
Etymology Originally northern dialectal, from Scots pet (“an animal that has been tamed and is kept as a pet; a darling or favourite; a petted or spoiled child”), probably from Scottish Gaelic peata (“pet, tamed animal, spoiled child”), from Middle Irish petta, peta (“pet, lap-dog”), of uncertain origin, possibly from a pre-Indo-European substrate. Compare also peat (“pet, darling, woman”), which is likely not related. The verb is derived from the noun.
1
To stroke or fondle (an animal).
I really love to pet cute puppies.
2
Informal To stroke or fondle (another person) amorously.
We started petting each other the moment we were alone.
1970-1975, Lou Sullivan, personal diary, quoted in 2019, Ellis Martin, Zach Ozma (editors), We Both Laughed In Pleasure We kissed & petted for about 15 mins & he still wasn't hard, altho he acted like he was enjoying himself.
Deer are often tamed and petted, and their flesh is so much esteemed by all Malays, that it is very natural they should endeavour to introduce them into the remote islands in which they settled, and whose luxuriant forests seem so well adapted for their subsistence.1869, Alfred Russel Wallace, The Malay Archipelago, volume II, London: Macmillan and Co., page 140:
4
Dated To treat (someone) as a pet; to fondle; to indulge.
His daughter was petted and spoiled.
[…] the American dramatist has had to waste most of his first act elaborately planting the information that his Mister Quex is rich, petted by Society, and altogether more spectacular than the common run of men.1919 August, P. G. Wodehouse, “Prohibition and the Drama”, in Vanity Fair, page 21:
Etymology Originally northern dialectal, from Scots pet (“an animal that has been tamed and is kept as a pet; a darling or favourite; a petted or spoiled child”), probably from Scottish Gaelic peata (“pet, tamed animal, spoiled child”), from Middle Irish petta, peta (“pet, lap-dog”), of uncertain origin, possibly from a pre-Indo-European substrate. Compare also peat (“pet, darling, woman”), which is likely not related. The verb is derived from the noun.
1
Figuratively Favourite; cherished; the focus of one's (usually positive) attention.
a pet project
a pet child
4 more examples
The professor seemed offended by the criticism of her pet theory.
Some young lady's pet curate.1886, Frederic Harrison, The Choice of Books:
Major Butler has a pet grievance and a pet aversion, which he forces on the reader in every chapter, and which becomes at last very wearisome.1875, William Conant Church, The Galaxy, page 141:
In an interview with Flying magazine, Heberding commented that her pet annoyance was "the reluctance of people generally to accept a woman whether as a pilot or a preflight inspector."1991, Deborah G. Douglas, United States Women in Aviation, 1940-1985, page 9:
“Now,” said Hands, “look there; there’s a pet bit for to beach a ship in. Fine flat sand, never a cat's paw, trees all around of it, and flowers a-blowing like a garding on that old ship.”1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC:
A fit of petulance, a sulk, arising from the impression that one has been offended or slighted.
His genius at this time was of a decidedly gloomy cast. He brought his mother a tragedy, in which, though he killed sixteen people before the second act, it made her laugh so, that he thrust the masterpiece into the fire in a pet.1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 3, in The History of Pendennis. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1849–1850, →OCLC:
There was something ludicrous, even more, unbecoming a gentleman, in leaving a friend's house in a pet, with the host's reproaches sounding in his ears, to be matched only by the bitterness of the guest's sneering retorts.1891, Mary Noailles Murfree, In the "Stranger People's" Country, Nebraska, published 2005, page 105:
1 more example
Buck Mulligan sat down in a sudden pet.1922 February, James Joyce, “[Episode 1]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company, […], →OCLC:
pet
verb
Etymology Clipping of petulance.
1
To be petulant or upset; to have a problem with.
Got suttin' in the glove compartment and I won't pet to use it2019, “Going Through It” (track 6), in Ignorance Is Bliss, performed by Skepta:
pet
noun
Etymology Clipping of petal.
1
Geordie, Ireland A term of endearment usually applied to women and children.