Pup″pet (?), n. [OE. popet, OF. poupette; akin to F. poupée 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.
2. A similar figure moved by the hand or by a wire in a mock drama; a marionette; a wooden actor in a play.
At the pipes of some carved organ move,
The gilded puppets dance. Pope.
3. One controlled in his action by the will of another; a tool; — so used in contempt. Sir W. Scott.
4. (Mach.) The upright support for the bearing of the spindle in a lathe.
Puppet master. Same as Puppetman. — Puppet play, a puppet show. — Puppet player, one who manages the motions of puppets. — Puppet show, a mock drama performed by puppets moved by wires. — Puppet valve, a valve in the form of a circular disk, which covers a hole in its seat, and opens by moving bodily away from the seat while remaining parallel with it, — used in steam engines, pumps, safety valves, etc. Its edge is often beveled, and fits in a conical recess in the seat when the valve is closed. See the valves shown in Illusts. of Plunger pump, and Safety valve, under Plunger, and Safety.