Pet, a. Petted; indulged; admired;
cherished; as, a pet child; a pet lamb; a pet
theory.
Some young lady's pet curate.
F.
Harrison.
Pet cock. [Perh. for petty cock.]
(Mach.) A little faucet in a water pipe or pump, to let air
out, or at the end of a steam cylinder, to drain it.
Pet, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Petted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Petting.] To treat as a pet; to fondle; to indulge; as,
she was petted and spoiled.
Pet (?), n. [Formerly peat,
perhaps from Ir. peat, akin to Gael. peata.]
1. A cade lamb; a lamb brought up by
hand.
2. Any person or animal especially cherished
and indulged; a fondling; a darling; often, a favorite
child.
The love of cronies, pets, and
favorites.
Tatler.
3. [Prob. fr. Pet a fondling, hence, the
behavior or humor of a spoiled child.] A slight fit of
peevishness or fretfulness. "In a pet she started up."
Tennyson.
Pet, v. i. To be a pet.
Feltham.