Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Cat?

\Cat\, n. [AS. cat; akin to D. & Dan. kat, Sw. kett, Icel. k["o]ttr, G. katze, kater, Ir. Cat, W. cath, Armor. kaz, LL. catus, Bisc. catua, NGr. ?, ?, Russ. & Pol. cot, Turk. kedi, Ar. qitt; of unknown origin. CF. {Ketten}.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) An animal of various species of the genera {Felis} and {Lynx}. The domestic cat is {Felis domestica}. The European wild cat ({Felis catus}) is much larger than the domestic cat. In the United States the name {wild cat} is commonly applied to the bay lynx ({Lynx rufus}) See {Wild cat}, and {Tiger cat}. Note: The domestic cat includes many varieties named from their place of origin or from some peculiarity; as, the {Angora cat}; the {Maltese cat}; the {Manx cat}. Note: The word cat is also used to designate other animals, from some fancied resemblance; as, civet cat, fisher cat, catbird, catfish shark, sea cat. 2. (Naut.) (a) A strong vessel with a narrow stern, projecting quarters, and deep waist. It is employed in the coal and timber trade. (b) A strong tackle used to draw an anchor up to the cathead of a ship. --Totten. 3. A double tripod (for holding a plate, etc.), having six feet, of which three rest on the ground, in whatever position in is placed. 4. An old game; (a) The game of tipcat and the implement with which it is played. See {Tipcat}. (c) A game of ball, called, according to the number of batters, one old cat, two old cat, etc. 5. A cat o' nine tails. See below. {Angora cat}, {blind cat}, See under {Angora}, {Blind}. {Black cat} the fisher. See under {Black}. {Cat and dog}, like a cat and dog; quarrelsome; inharmonious. ``I am sure we have lived a cat and dog life of it.'' --Coleridge. {Cat block} (Naut.), a heavy iron-strapped block with a large hook, part of the tackle used in drawing an anchor up to the cathead. {Cat hook} (Naut.), a strong hook attached to a cat block. {Cat nap}, a very short sleep. [Colloq.] {Cat o' nine tails}, an instrument of punishment consisting of nine pieces of knotted line or cord fastened to a handle; -- formerly used to flog offenders on the bare back. {Cat's cradle}, game played, esp. by children, with a string looped on the fingers so, as to resemble small cradle. The string is transferred from the fingers of one to those of another, at each transfer with a change of form. See {Cratch}, {Cratch cradle}. {To let the cat out of the bag}, to tell a secret, carelessly or willfully. [Colloq.] {Bush cat}, the serval. See {Serval}.
\Cat\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {tted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Catting}.] (Naut.) To bring to the cathead; as, to cat an anchor. See {Anchor}. --Totten.