Poppet

Poppet

The word poppet is an older spelling of puppet, from the Middle English "popet," meaning a small child or doll. In British Dialect it continues to hold this meaning. Poppet is also a chiefly English term of endearment. [ [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/poppet Random House Unabridged Dictionary] , Random House, Inc. 2006. 17 Nov. 2006.] Poppet now generally refers to its use in folk-magic.

While the origins of 'poppet' come from old England, namely from Marionette performances in Cheshire, England, in today's term, 'Poppet' is expressed throughout the world as a term of endearment between loved ones. It has travelled beyond the bounds of the United Kingdom, and has found use in areas of the world such as Australia, India, and many other British commonwealth nations. Columbus, Ohio is among many places where one may find the term 'poppet' to be very commonly used, due to its large South Asian community.

Folk magic

In folk-magic and witchcraft, a poppet is a doll made to represent a person, for casting spells on that person. These dolls may be fashioned from such materials as a carved root, grain or corn shafts, a fruit, paper, wax, a potato, clay, branches, or cloth stuffed with herbs. The intention is that whatever actions are performed upon the effigy will be transferred to the subject based in sympathetic magic. It was from these dolls that the myth of Voodoo dolls arose. [cite episode |title= Divination|episodelink= List_of_QI_episodes_%28D_series%29#Episode_10_.22Divination.22|series= QI|serieslink= QI|credits= Stephen Fry (presenter), John Lloyd (creator), Ian Lorimer (director)|network= BBC|season= D|number= 10]

References

ee also

*Poppet valve
*Paynes Poppets


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  • Poppet — Pop pet, n. 1. See {Puppet}. [1913 Webster] 2. (Naut.) One of certain upright timbers on the bilge ways, used to support a vessel in launching. Totten. [1913 Webster] 3. (Mach.) An upright support or guide fastened at the bottom only. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • poppet — [päp′it] n. [var. of PUPPET] 1. TAILSTOCK 2. a valve that moves into and from its seat: often cam driven and spring loaded for a rapid repeating, popping action as in a gasoline engine: in full poppet valve 3. any of certain timbers used to… …   English World dictionary

  • poppet — small human figure used in witchcraft and sorcery, c.1300, early form of PUPPET (Cf. puppet) (q.v.). Meaning small or dainty person is recorded from late 14c.; later a term of endearment …   Etymology dictionary

  • poppet — ► NOUN Brit. informal ▪ an endearingly sweet or pretty child. ORIGIN Latin puppa girl, doll ; related to PUPPET(Cf. ↑puppetry) …   English terms dictionary

  • poppet —    Etymologically, this is an earlier form of the word ‘puppet’, which has taken over many of its senses.    The spelling ‘poppet’ has been retained, however, since the fourteenth century, for the word applied to a small, dainty person who is… …   A dictionary of epithets and terms of address

  • poppet — n. 1 Brit. colloq. (esp. as a term of endearment) a small or dainty person. 2 (in full poppet head) the head of a lathe. 3 a small square piece of wood fitted inside the gunwale or washstrake of a boat. Phrases and idioms: poppet head Brit. the… …   Useful english dictionary

  • poppet — noun (C) BrE spoken a way of talking to or about a child or animal you are fond of: Isn t he a poppet? | Come here, poppet …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • poppet — UK [ˈpɒpɪt] / US [ˈpɑpɪt] noun [countable] Word forms poppet : singular poppet plural poppets British spoken used for talking to or about a child that you like …   English dictionary

  • poppet — Poppit Pop pit, n. a small plastic bead with opposed holes and protuberant knobs, so shaped that the beads may be fastened to each other in chains and detached easily, and can be used to form variable length chains for use as necklaces, bracelets …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • poppet — Puppet Pup pet, n. [OE. popet, OF. poupette; akin to F. poup[ e]e a doll, probably from L. puppa, pupa, a girl, doll, puppet. Cf. {Poupeton}, {Pupa}, {Pupil}, {Puppy}.] [Written also {poppet}.] 1. A small image in the human form; a doll. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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