Puppet

Puppet

Noun · /ˈpʌpɪt/ · a figure controlled by strings or hands; a person controlled by another

Definition

A puppet is a figure — made of wood, cloth, or other materials — that is given the appearance of life by a human operator working from outside, either through strings, rods, or a hand inserted inside it. In its broader figurative sense, a puppet is any person, organisation, or government that appears to act independently but is in fact controlled or manipulated by an external power. The word captures both the mechanics of performance and the politics of power.

Origin

From Old French poupette, a diminutive of poupée — a doll — itself from Latin pupa, meaning girl or doll. Puppet arrived in English in the mid-16th century, initially meaning a small doll or marionette used in theatrical performances. Over time, the figurative sense developed — a puppet state, a puppet government — wherever one power visibly controls another while maintaining the pretence of autonomy. The related word pupil — meaning a student — shares the same Latin root, from the idea of a small figure reflected in the eye of a teacher.