Tell me more ×
English Language & Usage Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 0 down vote favorite

What's the meaning of "cub" or "cubs" and in what context is it used?

share|improve this question

closed as general reference by waiwai933♦ Jun 30 '12 at 20:50

This question is too basic; it can be definitively and permanently answered by a single link to a standard internet reference source designed specifically to find that type of information. See the FAQ for guidance on how to improve it.

2 Answers

up vote 2 down vote accepted

Cubs is the plural of cub. Cub is the name for the infant offspring of bears, lions and some other creatures.

share|improve this answer
Is it a common English word or you had to look it up? – donald Mar 4 '11 at 21:44
3  
@donald it is very common. – Cubbi Mar 4 '11 at 21:46
It is extremely common. I don't think I ever had to look it up in a dictionary, not even when I was five years old. – Robusto Mar 4 '11 at 21:46
Thanks. One more question, when you say something like: hit cub, snap cub or click cub, is it understandable? or, for example, in the case of click cub, it looks like you're saying "hub". correct? – donald Mar 4 '11 at 21:48
@donald: I have never heard hit cub, snap cub or click cub until you wrote them in your comment. – Robusto Mar 4 '11 at 21:51
show 4 more comments
up vote 2 down vote

As Robusto points out, the most basic definition of cub is young offspring, and it is used in reference to those of some common wild animals, such as lions (and other felines), bears, foxes, hyenas, etc. Cub can also be compounded with the name of an animal for specificity, e.g. lion-cub, bear-cub, and so forth.

In some parts of the English-speaking world, the word cub is also used in a similar sense for a boy scout in the making; hence, the term cub scout. Cubs or cub scouts have to work hard to earn points and gain a certain level of maturity before Akela can declare them boy scouts.

share|improve this answer
In addition to that, there are 'cub' is used in urban slang too for men attracted to older women and certain groups of homosexual men. – Ankur Banerjee Mar 6 '11 at 11:39
"Cub" was once used to reference any sort of apprentice or new entrant to a profession, "cub reporter" being the most frequent phrase. It was never that common and I don't think I have heard it for 30 years. – Malvolio Jul 11 '11 at 15:34

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.