Extract revised for OED Online

sick adj.

DRAFT REVISION Apr. 2007

sick puppy n. orig. and chiefly U.S. (a) colloq. a very ill person; (b) slang an abnormal, deviant, or deranged person.

1948 S. SPEWACK Busy Busy People xi. 121 'I'm sick,' said Brell... But Pop merely chuckled. 'Poor little *sick puppy.' 1960 M. DAVENPORT Constant Image xiv. 203 He's given her a shot of something to calm her stomach. She really is much better, but she was a sick puppy this morning. 1982 Boston Globe 3 Sept. 24/1 Dismissing..Burke..as a 'sick puppy'. 2003 P. REED One 8 We think you're a sick puppy, mister.