▪ I. † pute, n. rare—1.
[a. F. pute = Pr., Sp. puta, It. putta, late pop. L. pūtta:—L. pūtida stinking: cf. putain.]
A whore, strumpet, prostitute.
| c 1380 Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. I. 293 Þei ben foule putis. |
▪ II. pute, a. Now rare or arch.
(pjuːt)
[ad. L. putus clean, pure, used in the phrase purus (ac) putus = purissimus.]
In phrases pure pute, pure and pute, pure, clean, mere.
| c 1619 Bp. Hall Via Media §5 Arminius..acknowledges faith to be the pure pute gift of God. 1657 Sanderson Serm. Pref. §24 A pure pute Christian. a 1734 North Exam. ii. iv. §49 (1740) 256 Dangerfield had the Honour to be a single Discoverer of a pure and pute Sham-plot, Name and Thing. 1906 R. Kipling Puck of Pook's Hill, Hal o' Draft 240 Only you and I chance to be pure pute asses. |
▪ III. pute
obs. form of pit n.1