prusten

From the German verb prusten (“to sneeze, to snort”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈpɹuːst(ə)n/

prusten (uncountable)

1. A sound made by tigers and snow leopards without the intent to threaten, producing a breathy snort by blowing through the nostrils whilst the mouth is closed — a low-frequency equivalent of the purring found in domestic cats.
   • 2001, Yann Martel, chapter 57, in Life of Pi, Canongate, published 2003, →ISBN, page 163:

     He made a sound, a snort from his nostrils. I pricked up my ears. He did it a second time. I was astonished. Prusten?

   • ibidem, pages 163–164:

     Prusten is the quietest of tiger calls, a puff through the nose to express friendliness and harmless intentions.

• chuff
• chuffle

• prusten on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

• Turpens, punster, punters, turneps, unprest

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

• IPA^(key): /ˈpʁuːstən/, [ˈpʁuːstn̩]

• Audio:

  (file)

prusten (weak, third-person singular present prustet, past tense prustete, past participle geprustet, auxiliary haben)

1. to snort (especially with laughter)
2. to splutter

• English: prusten

• “prusten” in Duden online
• “prusten” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache