puss = hare, 1575

[Jonathan Lighter]

OED shows this from 1668 only.

1575 George Gascoigne _The Noble Arte of Venerie or Hunting_ (London: Christopher Barker, 1575)  146  Then let him which founde the Hare go towardes hyr and say, vp pusse vp, vntill she ryse out of hyr forme.

Note how hares, too, were all presumed to be female.

JL

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