I. ˈkat noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English catt, probably from Late Latin cattus, catta cat
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. : a carnivorous mammal ( Felis catus ) long domesticated as a pet and for catching rats and mice
b. : any of a family (Felidae) of carnivorous usually solitary and nocturnal mammals (as the domestic cat, lion, tiger, leopard, jaguar, cougar, wildcat, lynx, and cheetah)
2. : a malicious woman
3. : a strong tackle used to hoist an anchor to the cathead of a ship
4.
a. : catboat
b. : catamaran
5. : cat-o'-nine-tails
6. : catfish
7.
a. : a player or devotee of jazz
b. : guy
II. verb
( cat·ted ; cat·ting )
Date: 1681
intransitive verb
: to search for a sexual mate — often used with around
transitive verb
: to bring (an anchor) up to the cathead
III. abbreviation
1. catalog
2. catalyst