fox cub or fox pup ??

English translation: cub

09:52 Dec 13, 2006
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Zoology / young of the Arctic fox
English term or phrase: fox cub or fox pup ??
This is a marketing text about toy figures, with a series of animals and their young.

The client calls it an Arctic fox pup, but this sounds completely wrong to me. They also refer to puppies where I would write cubs.

Googling shows it exists, though the majority of hits are for 'cub'. Many (millions?) are not in fact relevant, so I'd like some considered opinions, please!

The products are at least as much for the US market as for the UK side of the pond, so if 'pups' are a US thing the client wil want to keep the 'pups' expressions.

All help appreciated!
Christine Andersen
Denmark
Local time: 06:48
Selected answer:cub
Explanation:
for foxes - at least in England...
Selected response from:

David Moore (X)
Local time: 06:48
Grading comment
Thanks, David! And thanks to all those who agreed with useful comments too.
The client is a bit conservative, and wanted to use the most widespread term. I was afraid they had set up a lot of advertising etc. with pups etc. but they went happily along with cub/cubs.
And not least, thanks to Nesrin who should have had points anyway for an interesting answer, and gave them up because that's how the rules work...
Better luck next time!
3 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +12cub
David Moore (X)
2 +7cub/kit/pup - not for points
Ulrike Kraemer
4kit
Nesrin


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


2 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +12
cub


Explanation:
for foxes - at least in England...

David Moore (X)
Local time: 06:48
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 3
Grading comment
Thanks, David! And thanks to all those who agreed with useful comments too.
The client is a bit conservative, and wanted to use the most widespread term. I was afraid they had set up a lot of advertising etc. with pups etc. but they went happily along with cub/cubs.
And not least, thanks to Nesrin who should have had points anyway for an interesting answer, and gave them up because that's how the rules work...
Better luck next time!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Marie-Hélène Hayles: yep - but I don't know about in the US!
5 mins

agree  Dr. Andrew Frankland: Both Websters and the OED give it as cub. No idea about UK/US versions.
6 mins

agree  garci: Coinciding with Nesrin.
7 mins

agree  kmtext
9 mins

agree  Jack Doughty
12 mins

agree  Vicky Papaprodromou
31 mins

agree  Rachel Fell: as in the verb (to go cubbing)... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/09... - but I'm speaking about the UK
46 mins

agree  Yavor Dimitrov
56 mins

agree  LJC (X)
2 hrs

agree  Alfa Trans (X)
7 hrs

agree  Romanian Translator (X)
9 hrs

agree  Will Matter: It's "cub", even in the U.S. I've never seen (or heard) "pup" used for foxes. http://www.pbase.com/ian_stickland/foxcubs1
12 hrs
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3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
kit


Explanation:
A male fox is called a reynard, the female is called a vixen, and the baby is called a kit. A group of foxes is called a skulk or a leash.

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/fox/Foxpri...

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Note added at 5 mins (2006-12-13 09:57:56 GMT)
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... however, "cub" appears to be the more widesperad term!

Nesrin
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:48
Native speaker of: Arabic

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Will Matter: I have heard "kit" but think that "pup" is much more widespread.
12 hrs
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7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): +7
cub/kit/pup - not for points


Explanation:
Here's what Wikipedia has to say:

"Fox terminology is different from that used for most canids. Male foxes are known as dogs, tods, vixes (plural of vix), or reynard, females are referred to as vixens, and their young are called kits or cubs, as well as pups. A group of foxes is a skulk."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox

Ulrike Kraemer
Germany
Local time: 06:48
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Lorenia de la Vega
3 mins

agree  William [Bill] Gray: Also at: http://www.microwiz.digitalbridgeway.com/crossword_links/ani...
45 mins

agree  Paula Vaz-Carreiro
2 hrs

agree  Bailatjones
2 hrs

agree  Margaret Schroeder: Note that for foxes, unlike dogs, "pup" is not extended to "puppies", therefore fox pups are never fox puppies. In this the client could be said to mistaken, although toys may have a different nomenclature! :)
3 hrs

agree  humbird: Here in the Southwest US I hear "pups" more often, though.
6 hrs

agree  Will Matter: I've always called them "cubs"
12 hrs
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