puling

Puling is the present participle of pule, and also an adjective describing the act of whining or whimpering in a feeble or querulous manner. It is most commonly used in British English and in literary contexts to characterize people or animals who complain in a childish or tiresome way.

Etymology and sense: The verb pule has been part of English since the Middle Ages. The exact origins are uncertain, but pule is generally regarded as onomatopoeic, reflecting the sound of a weak cry or whine. The participle puling shares this sense and can function attributively (a puling child) or predicatively (the dog was puling at the gate).

Usage and nuance: Puling emphasizes affectation and a lack of substance in the complaint; it can convey scolding, humor, or disdain. Examples include references to a puppy at a door or a human offering a petty excuse. In modern prose, puling is relatively old-fashioned or literary, and more common synonyms in everyday speech are whining, whimpering, or bleating.

Regional variation: While widely recognized in British English, puling appears sporadically in other varieties and may come across as quaint or archaic outside certain contexts.

See also: pule, whine, whimper, complain.