Something unexpected in my “ug” exploration was a Sanskrit connection. For example, “thug” — “a rough, brutal hoodlum, gangster, robber, etc.” ...

I believe I have plumbed the depths of the “ug” puddle enough to move on after this week. And in honor of the dog days of August, I’ll begin with “pug.” ...

Sometimes, of course, it depends upon timing. The best example of this is Hans Christian Andersen’s timeless tale of the homely “duckling” that turned out to be a swan.