From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishputtyput‧ty /ˈpʌti/ noun [uncountable] 1 TBCa soft whitish substance that becomes hard when it dries and that is used to fix glass into window frames2 → be putty in somebody’s hands
Examples from the Corpus
putty• Use solvent and a putty knife or large screwdriver.• The delicate glasses had felt thick and awkward in her hands, soft as putty but covered in cutting edges.• Inside is a white brick of plastic explosive, which was kind of like putty.• Make sure the frame is dry, and prime bare wood before applying new putty.• I stretched out a hand, and she was putty - the licking, wagging kind.Origin putty (1600-1700) French potée “potful, putty”, from pot “pot” 