DictionarypugWorked clay or mortar
noun / verb

pug

Clay or mortar kneaded into a uniform mass.

The potter keeps the pug moist under a plastic sheet.

Etymology

Pug has a technical history as a name for kneaded clay and the process of working it. Its deeper origin is uncertain.

More examples

  • We pug the clay before shaping it into bricks.
  • The machine pugged the clay into a smooth, uniform mass.
  • Workers carry the prepared pug to the brick molds.

Forms

pug · pugs · pugged · pugging

Similar words

knead
Emphasizes repeated pressing and folding, not specifically clay or mortar.
mix
Means combining materials without necessarily kneading them into uniform consistency.