n. & v.
n. 1 a small soft-furred four-legged domesticated animal, Felis catus. 2 a any wild animal of the genus Felis, e.g. a lion, tiger, or leopard. b = wild cat. 3 a catlike animal of any other species (civet cat). 4 colloq. a malicious or spiteful woman. 5 sl. a jazz enthusiast. 6 Naut. = CATHEAD. 7 = cat-o'-nine-tails. 8 a short tapered stick in the game of tipcat.
v.tr. (also absol.) (catted, catting) Naut. raise (an anchor) from the surface of the water to the cathead. cat-and-dog (of a relationship etc.) full of quarrels. cat burglar a burglar who enters by climbing to an upper storey. cat flap (or door) a small swinging flap in an outer door, for a cat to pass in and out. cat-ice thin ice unsupported by water. cat-o'-nine-tails hist. a rope whip with nine knotted lashes for flogging sailors, soldiers, or criminals. cat's cradle a child's game in which a loop of string is held between the fingers and patterns are formed. Cat's-eye Brit. propr. one of a series of reflector studs set into a road. cat's-eye a precious stone of Sri Lanka and Malabar. cat's-foot any small plant of the genus Antennaria, having soft woolly leaves and growing on the surface of the ground. cat's-paw 1 a person used as a tool by another. 2 a slight breeze rippling the surface of the water. cat's-tail = reed-mace (see REED(1)). cat's whiskers (or pyjamas) sl. an excellent person or thing. let the cat out of the bag reveal a secret, esp. involuntarily. like a cat on hot bricks (or on a hot tin roof) very agitated or agitatedly. put (or set) the cat among the pigeons cause trouble. rain cats and dogs rain very hard.
[ OE catt(e) f. LL cattus ]