Whelp (?), n. [AS. hwelp; akin to D. welp, G. & OHG. welf, Icel. hvelpr, Dan. hvalp, Sw. valp.]
1. One of the young of a dog or a beast of prey; a puppy; a cub; as, a lion's whelps. “A bear robbed of her whelps.” 2 Sam. xvii. 8.
2. A child; a youth; — jocosely or in contempt.
That awkward whelp with his money bags would have made his entrance. Addison.
3. (Naut.) One of the longitudinal ribs or ridges on the barrel of a capstan or a windless; — usually in the plural; as, the whelps of a windlass.
4. One of the teeth of a sprocket wheel.