<h2>CONCERNING CATS.</h2>
<p><span class="smcap">Cat</span>.—Irish, <i>Cat</i>; French, <i>Chat</i>; Dutch, <i>Kat</i>; Danish, <i>Kat</i>;
Swedish, <i>Katt</i>; German, <i>Katti</i> or <i>Katze</i>; Latin, <i>Catus</i>; Italian,
<i>Gatto</i>; Portuguese and Spanish, <i>Gato</i>; Polish, <i>Kot</i>; Russian, <i>Kots</i>;
Turkish, <i>Keti</i>; Welsh, <i>Cath</i>; Cornish, <i>Kath</i>; Basque, <i>Catua</i>;
Armenian, <i>Gaz</i> or <i>Katz</i>. In Armenic, <i>Kitta</i>, or <i>Kaita</i>, is a male
cat.</p>
<p><i>Abram cat.</i>—This I first thought simply meant a male cat; but I find
in Nares, "Abram" is the corruption of "auburn," so, no doubt, a red or
sandy tabby cat is intended.</p>
<p><i>A Wheen cat, a Queen cat (Catus femina).</i>—"Queen" was used by the
Saxons to signify the female sex, in that "queen fugol" was used for
"hen fowl." Farmers in Kent and Sussex used also to call heifers "little
queens."</p>
<p><i>Carl cat.</i>—A boar or he-cat, from the old Saxon carle or karle, a
male, and cat.</p>
<p><i>Cat.</i>—It was used to denote "Liberty." No animal is more impatient of
restriction or confinement, nor yet <i>seeming</i> to bear it with more
resignation. The Romans made their goddess of Liberty holding a cup in
one hand and a broken sceptre in the other, with a cat lying at her
feet. Among the goddesses, Diana is said to have assumed the form of a
cat. The Egyptians worshipped the cat as an emblem of the moon, not only
because it was more active after sunset, but from the dilation and
contraction of its orb, symbolical of the waxing and waning of the night
goddess. But Bailey, in his dictionary, says cats see best as the sun
approaches, and that their eyesight decays as it goes down in the
evening. Yet, "on this account," says Mr. Thiselton Dyer, in his
"English Folk-lore," "it was so highly esteemed as to receive
sacrifices, and even to have stately temples<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_171" id="Page_171"></SPAN></span> erected to its honour.
Whenever a cat died, Brand tells us, all the family shaved their
eyebrows; and Diodorus Siculus relates that a Roman happening
accidentally to kill a cat, the mob immediately gathered round the house
where he was, and neither the entreaties of some principal men by the
king, nor the fear of the Romans, with whom the Egyptians were then
negotiating a peace, could save the man's life. In so much esteem also
was it held, that on the death of its owner the favourite cat, or even
kitten, was sacrificed, embalmed, and placed in the same sarcophagus."</p>
<p>Some few years ago, Mr. E. Long, R.A., exhibited at the Royal Academy a
very fine picture of Egyptians idol-making, idol worshippers and
sellers; the lines from Juvenal being descriptive:</p>
<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
<span class="i0">"All know what monsters Egypt venerates;<br/></span>
<span class="i0">It worships crocodiles, or it adores<br/></span>
<span class="i0">The snake-gorged ibis; and sacred ape<br/></span>
<span class="i0">Graven in gold is seen ...Whole cities pray<br/></span>
<span class="i0">To <i>cats</i> and fishes, or the dog invoke."<br/></span></div>
</div>
<p><i>Cat.</i>—A metal tripod for holding a plate or Dutch oven before the
fire. So called because, in whatever position it is placed, it is
supported by the spokes; as it is said a cat will always light on its
feet, so the plate-holder will stand firmly in any position. These old
brass appliances have now gone out of use and are seldom seen, the new
mode of "handing round" not requiring them. Another reason, doubtless,
is the lowness of the fire compared with the stove of former years,
which was high up in the bygone "parlour grate."</p>
<p><i>Cat.</i>—A cross old woman was called "a cat"; or to a shrewish, the
epithet was applied tauntingly.</p>
<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
<span class="i0">"But will you woo this wild cat?"<br/></span></div>
</div>
<p style="margin-left: 45%;"
><i>Taming of the Shrew</i>, Act I., Scene 2.</p>
<p><span class="smcap">Cat.</span>—A ship formed on the Norwegian model, having a narrow stern,
projecting quarters, and a deep waist. It is strongly built, from four
to six hundred tons' burden, and employed in the coal trade.<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_172" id="Page_172"></SPAN></span></p>
<p><i>Cat.</i>—A strong tackle, or combination of pulleys, to hook and draw in
the anchor perpendicularly up to the cat-head of the ship.</p>
<p><i>Cat.</i>—A small kind of anchor is sometimes called a cat or ketch; by
the Dutch, "Kat."</p>
<p><i>Cat.</i>—"At the edge of the moat, opposite the wooden tower, a strong
penthouse, which they called a 'cat,' might be seen stealing towards the
curtain, and gradually filling up the moat with facines and
rubbish."—Read <i>Cloister and Hearth</i>, chap, xliii. (Davis' "Glossary.")</p>
<p><i>Catacide.</i>—A cat-killer (<span class="smcap">Bailey</span>, 1726).</p>
<p><i>Catamount.</i>—Cat of the mountain, the ordinary wild cat, when found on
the mountains, among the rocks or woods.</p>
<p><i>Cat and trap.</i>—A game or play (<span class="smcap">Ainsworth</span>). This is probably that known
as "trap, bat, and ball," as on striking the trap, after the ball is
placed on the lever, it is propelled upwards, and then struck by the
batsman.</p>
<p><i>Catapult.</i>—A military engine for battering or attacking purposes. A
modern toy, by which much mischief and evil is done by unthinking boys.</p>
<p><i>Cat-bird.</i>—An American bird, whose cry resembles that of a cat, the
<i>Turdus felivox.</i></p>
<p><i>Cat-block.</i>—A two or threefold block with an iron strap and large
hook, used to draw up an anchor to the cat-head.</p>
<p><i>Cat-call.</i>—"A tin whistle. The ancients divided their dramas into four
parts: <i>pro'tasis</i> (introduction), <i>epit'asis</i> (continuation),
<i>catas'tasis</i> (climax), and <i>catas'troph�</i> (conclusion or <i>d�nouement</i>).
The cat-call is the call for the cat or <i>catastrophe.</i>"—<span class="smcap">Brewer's</span>
<i>Dictionary of Phrase and Fable.</i></p>
<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
<span class="i0">"Sound, sound, ye viols; be the cat-call dumb."<br/></span></div>
</div>
<p style="margin-left: 55%;"><span class="smcap">Dunciade</span>, I. 303.</p>
<p>The modern imitation of "cat-calls" is caused by whistling with two
fingers in the mouth, and so making an intensely shrill noise, with
waulings imitating "catter<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_173" id="Page_173"></SPAN></span>waulings." Also a shrill tin whistle, round
and flat, set against the teeth.</p>
<p><i>Cat-eaten Street.</i>—In London; properly "Catte Street" (<span class="smcap">Stow</span>).</p>
<p><i>Caterpillar.</i>—"<i>Catyrpelwyrm</i> among fruit" is corrupted from old
French <i>Chatte peleuse</i> (<span class="smcap">Palsgrave</span>, 1530). "Hairy cat;" the last part of
the word was probably assimilated to <i>piller</i>, a robber or despoiler
(<span class="smcap">Palmer's</span> <i>Folk Etymology</i>).</p>
<p><i>Caterwauling.</i>—The wrawl of cats in rutting times; any hideous noise.
Topsel gives <i>catwralling</i>, to "wrall;" "wrawl," to rail or quarrel with
a loud voice; hence the Yorkshire expression, "raising a wrow," meaning
a row or quarrel. There is also the archaic adjective <i>wraw</i> (angry).
Caterwaul, therefore, is the wawl or wrawl of cats; the <i>er</i> being
either a plural, similar to "childer" (children), or a corrupted
genitive.—<span class="smcap">Brewer's</span> <i>Dictionary of Phrase and Fable.</i></p>
<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
<span class="i0">"What a caterwawling do you keep here!"<br/></span></div>
</div>
<p style="margin-left: 55%;"><span class="smcap">Shakespeare</span>, <i>Twelfth Night</i>, Act II., Scene 3.</p>
<p>"To yawl.—To squall or scream harshly like an enraged cat."—<span class="smcap">Holloway</span>
(Norfolk).</p>
<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
<span class="i0">"Thou must be patient; we came crying hither;<br/></span>
<span class="i0">Thou knowest the first time that we smell air,<br/></span>
<span class="i0">We <i>waul</i> and cry."<br/></span></div>
</div>
<p style="margin-left: 55%;"><i>King John</i>, Act IV.</p>
<p><i>Cat-eyed.</i>—Sly, gray eyes, or with large pupils, watchful.</p>
<p><i>Cat-fall.</i>—A rope used in ships for hoisting the anchor to the
cat-head.</p>
<p><i>Catfish.</i>—A species of the squalus, or shark (<i>Felis marinus</i>). The
catfish of North America is a species of <i>cottus</i>, or bull-head.</p>
<p><i>Catgut.</i>—A corruption of "gut-cord." The intestines of a sheep,
twisted and dried; not that of a cat, as generally supposed. Also, it is
stated by some, the finer strings for viols were made from the cat. Mr.
Timbs says<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_174" id="Page_174"></SPAN></span> the original reading in Shakespeare was "<i>calves'</i>-gut." "A
sort of linen or canvas with wide interstices."—<span class="smcap">Webster.</span></p>
<p><i>Cat-hamed.</i>, or <i>hammed.</i>—Awkward; sometimes applied to a horse with
weak hind-legs, and which drops suddenly behind on its haunches, as a
cat is said to do.</p>
<p><i>Cat-handed.</i>—A Devonshire term for awkward.</p>
<p><i>Cat-harpings.</i>—"Rope sewing to brace in the shrouds of the lower masts
behind their respective yards, to tighten the shrouds and give more room
to draw in the yards when the ship is close hauled."—<i>Marine
Dictionary.</i></p>
<p><i>Cat-harping fashion.</i>—Drinking crossways, and not as usual, over the
left thumb. Sea term.—<span class="smcap">Grose</span>.</p>
<p><i>Cat-head.</i>—"A strong beam, projecting horizontally over the ship's
bows, carrying two or three sheaves, above which a rope, called the
cat-fall, passes, and communicates with the cat-block."—<i>Marine
Dictionary.</i></p>
<p><i>Cathood.</i>—The time when a kitten is full grown, it is then a cat and
has attained maturity, that is, cathood.</p>
<p><i>Cat-hook.</i>—A strong hook fitted to the cat-block.</p>
<p><i>Cat-lap.</i>—Weak tea, only fit for the cat to lap, or thin milk and
water. In Kent and Sussex it is also often applied to small, <i>very</i>
small beer; even thin gruel is called "cat-lap." Weak tea is also called
"scandal-broth."</p>
<p><i>Cat-like.</i>—Stealthy, slow, yet appertaining more to appearance.</p>
<p><i>Catlings.</i>—Down, or moss, growing about walnut-trees, resembling the
hair of a cat.</p>
<p><i>Cat o' Nine Tails.</i>—So called from being nine pieces of cord put
together, in each cord nine knots; and this, when used vigorously, makes
several long marks not unlike the clawing or scratching of a cat,
producing crossing and re-crossing wounds; a fearful and severe
punishment, formerly too often exercised for trivial offences.</p>
<p><i>Cat</i> or <i>dog wool.</i>—"Of which cotte or coarse blankets<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_175" id="Page_175"></SPAN></span> were formerly
made" (<span class="smcap">Bailey</span>). "Cot gase" (refuse wool). "Cat" no doubt was a
corruption of "cot."</p>
<p><i>Cat-pear.</i>—A pear, shaped like a hen's egg, that ripens in October.</p>
<p><i>Cat pellet.</i>—The pop-gun of boys, one pellet of paper driving out the
other. Davis in his "Glossary" thinks it means "tip-cat." Probably it
may be the sharpened piece of wood, not the game, that is different
altogether, he quotes.</p>
<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
<span class="i0">"Who beats the boys from cat pellet, and stool ball."<br/></span></div>
</div>
<p style="margin-left: 55%;"><i>British Bellman</i>, 1648.</p>
<p><i>Cat-salt.</i>—A salt obtained from butter.</p>
<p><i>Cat-salt.</i>—"A sort of salt beautifully granulated, formed out of the
bittern or leach brine, used for making hard soap."—<i>Encyclop�dia.</i></p>
<p><i>Cat's-eye.</i>—A precious stone, resembling, when polished, the eye of a
cat. It has lately become fashionable.</p>
<p>A large collection of Burmese, Indian, and Japanese curiosities was
lately sold by auction. The great attraction of the sale was "The Hindoo
Lingam God," consisting of a chrysoberyl <i>cat's-eye</i> fixed in a topaz,
and mounted in a pyramidal base studded with diamonds and precious
stones. This curious relic stood 2� inches in height. It was preserved
for more than a thousand years in an ancient temple at Delhi, where acts
of devotion were paid before it by women anxious to have children. The
base is of solid gold, and around it are set nine gems or charms, a
diamond, ruby, sapphire, <i>chrysoberyl cat's-eye</i>, coral, pearl,
hyacinthine garnet, yellow sapphire, and emerald. Round the apex of this
gold pyramid is a plinth set with diamonds. On the apex is a topaz 1
10-16ths inch in length, and 9-16ths of an inch in depth, shaped like a
horseshoe; in the centre of the horseshoe the <i>great chrysoberyl
cat's-eye</i> stands upright. This is 15-16ths of an inch in height, and
dark brown in colour, and shaped like a pear. An extremely mobile
opalescent light crosses the length of the stone in an oblique
direction. When<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_176" id="Page_176"></SPAN></span> Bad Shah Bahadoor Shah, the last King of Delhi, was
captured and exiled to the Andaman Isles, his Queen secreted this gem,
and it was never seen again until, being distressed during the Mutiny,
she sold it to the present owner. The gem was finally knocked down at
�2,450 to Mr. S. J. Phillips, jeweller, New Bond Street.</p>
<p><i>Cat's-foot.</i>—To live under the cat's foot, to be under the dominion of
a wife, hen-pecked.</p>
<p><i>Cat's-foot.</i>—A plant of the genus <i>Glechoma pes felinus</i>, ground ivy
or gill.</p>
<p><i>Cat's-head apple.</i>—A large culinary apple, considered by some in form
to bear a resemblance to a cat's head. Philips in his poem "Cyder" thus
describes it:</p>
<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
<span class="i0">" ...The cat's head's weighty orb,<br/></span>
<span class="i0">Enormous in growth, for various use."<br/></span></div>
</div>
<p><i>Cat-silver.</i>—An old popular name for mica or talc.</p>
<p><i>Cat-sleep.</i>—A light doze, a watchful sleep, like that of a hare or of
a cat who sits in front of a mouse-hole, a dozy or a sleeping
wakefulness.</p>
<p><i>Cat's-paw.</i>—Any one used by another for getting them out of a
difficulty, and for no other reason, is made a cat's-paw of. The simile
is from the fable of the monkey using the cat's paw to take his
chestnuts out of the fire. A light breeze just ruffling the water in a
calm is called a cat's-paw. Also a particular kind of turn in the bight
of a rope made to hook tackle on.</p>
<p><i>Cat's-tail.</i> (<i>Typha latifolia</i>).—A kind of reed which bears a spike
like the tail of a cat, which some call reed mace; its long, flat leaves
are much used for the bottoms of chairs.</p>
<p><i>Cats'-tails.</i>—Mares' tails (<i>equisetum</i>).</p>
<p><i>Cat-stane.</i>—"Battle-stone. A monolith in Scotland (sometimes falsely
called a Druidical stone). The Norwegian term, banta stein, means the
same thing. Celtic—<i>cath</i> (battle)."—<span class="smcap">Brewer's</span> <i>Dictionary of Phrase
and Fable.</i><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_177" id="Page_177"></SPAN></span></p>
<p><i>Cat-sticks.</i>—Thin legs; compared to the thin sticks with which boys
play at cat (Grose).</p>
<p><i>Catsup</i> or <i>ketchup.</i>—A corruption of the Eastern name of "Kitjap." Is
then the syllable "cat" a pun on "kit" or "kitten" (a young cat)? Surely
not.</p>
<p><i>Cattaria.</i>—<i>Nepeta Cattaria.</i> <i>Mentha felina</i>, the herb cat-mint.</p>
<p><i>Cattery.</i>—A place where cats are kept, the ordinary name when a person
keeps a collection of cats.</p>
<p><i>Cattish.</i>—Having stealthy ways, slow and cautious in movements,
watchful.</p>
<p><i>Catwater.</i> (Plymouth).—"This is a remarkable instance of
mistranslation. The castle at the mouth of the Plym used to be called
the Ch�teau; but some one, thinking it would be better to Anglicise the
French, divided the word into two parts: <i>chat</i> (cat), <i>eau</i>
(water)."—<span class="smcap">Brewer's</span> <i>Dictionary of Phrase and Fable.</i></p>
<p><i>Catwhin.</i>—<i>Rosa spinosissima.</i> Burnet Rose is the name of the <i>plant</i>.</p>
<p><i>Cat with two tails.</i>—The earwig. <i>Northumberland</i>; Holloway.</p>
<p><i>Gil cat.</i>—A male cat; some say an old male. Nares says, an expression
exactly analogous to "Jack ass;" the one being formerly called "Gil" or
"Gilbert," as commonly as the other "Jack." "Tom cat" is now the usual
term, and for a similar reason. "Tibert" is said to be the old French
for "Gilbert." From "Tibert," "Tib," "Tibby," also was a common name for
a cat. Wilkins, in his "Index to Philosophical Language," has "Gil"
(male) cat in the same way as a male cat is called a "Tom" cat. In some
counties the cock fowl is called a "Tom." It is unknown whence the
origin of the latter term.</p>
<p><i>Grimalkin.</i>—Poetical name for a cat (Bailey). "Mawkin" signifies a
hare in Scotland (Grose). In Sussex a hare is<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_178" id="Page_178"></SPAN></span> often called "puss" or
"pussy." "Puss" is also a common name for a cat.</p>
<p><i>Grinagog, the cat's uncle.</i>—A foolish, grinning fellow. One who grins
without reason (Grose). In Norfolk, if one say "she," the reply is,
"Who's 'she'? The cat's aunt?"</p>
<p><i>Hang me in a bottle like a cat.</i>—"<span class="smcap">Benedict</span>. If I do, hang me in a
bottle like a cat, and shoot at me, and he that hits me, let him be
clapt on the shoulder and called Adam" (meaning Adam Bell, the famous
archer).—<i>Much Ado About Nothing</i>, Act I.</p>
<p>A note in the "Percy Reliques," vol. i., 1812, states: "Bottles were
formerly of leather, though perhaps a wooden bottle might be here meant.
It is still a diversion in Scotland (1812) to hang up a cat in a small
cask or firkin, half filled with soot, and then a parcel of clowns on
horseback try to beat out the ends of it, in order to show their
dexterity in escaping before the contents fall on them."</p>
<blockquote><p>From "Demandes Joyeuses" (amusing questions), 1511:</p>
<p>"<i>Q.</i> What is that that never was and never will be?</p>
<p>"<i>A.</i> A mouse nest in a cat's ear.</p>
<p>"<i>Q.</i> Why does a cat cross the road?</p>
<p>"<i>A.</i> Because it wants to get to the other side."</p>
</blockquote>
<p><i>Mrs. Evans.</i>—"A local name for a she-cat, owing, it is said, to a
witch of the name of Evans, who assumed the appearance of a
cat."—<span class="smcap">Grose</span>.</p>
<p><i>Nine lives like a cat.</i>—"Cats, from their great suppleness and
aptitude to fall on their feet, are commonly said to have nine lives;
hence Ben Jonson, in 'Every Man in His Humour,' says: ''Tis a pity you
had not ten lives—a cat's and your own.'"—<span class="smcap">Thiselton Dyer's</span> <i>English
Folk-lore.</i></p>
<blockquote><p>"<span class="smcap">Tyb</span>. What wouldst thou have with me?
<span class="smcap">Mer</span>. Good king of cats, nothing but one of your nine lives."
<i>Romeo and Juliet</i>, III. I.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Middleton says in "Blurt Master Constable," 1602:</p>
<blockquote><p>"They have nine lives apiece, like a woman."</p>
</blockquote>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_179" id="Page_179"></SPAN></span></p>
<p><i>Pussy cats.</i>—Male blossom of the willow.</p>
<p><i>Salt-cat</i>, or <i>salt-cate.</i>—A mixture of salt, gravel, clay, old
mortar, cumin seed, ginger, and other ingredients, in a pan, which is
placed in pigeon lofts.</p>
<p><i>Sick as a Cat.</i>—Cats are subject to sickness or vomiting for the
purpose of throwing up indigestible matter, such as the fur of mice,
feathers of birds, which would otherwise collect and form balls
internally. For this reason they eat grass, which produces the desired
effect; hence arises the phrase "as sick as a cat."</p>
<p><i>Tabby.</i>—"An old maid; either from Tabitha, a formal antiquated name,
or else from a tabby cat; old maids, by the rude, weak-minded, and
vulgar, being often compared to cats. 'To drive tab,' to go out on a
party of pleasure with wife and family."—<span class="smcap">Grose's</span> <i>Glossary.</i></p>
<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
<span class="i0">"The neighbour's old cat often<br/></span>
<span class="i4">Came to pay us a visit;<br/></span>
<span class="i0">We made her a bow and courtesy,<br/></span>
<span class="i4">Each with a compliment in it.<br/></span></div>
<div class="stanza">
<span class="i0">After her health we asked,<br/></span>
<span class="i4">Our care and regard to evince;<br/></span>
<span class="i0">(We have made the very same speeches<br/></span>
<span class="i4">To many an old cat since)."<br/></span></div>
</div>
<p style="margin-left: 45%;"><span class="smcap">Mrs. B. Browning</span> (translation of "Heine").</p>
<p><i>Tip-cat.</i>—A pleasant game for those engaged in it; not so, too often,
for others, medical reports of late tending to show that many cases of
the loss of sight have occurred.</p>
<p><i>To turn Cat in Pan.</i>—This phrase has been a source of much contention,
and many different derivations have been given; but all tend to show
that it means a complete <i>turn over</i>, that is, to quit one side and go
to the other, to turn traitor, to turncoat. "To turn cat in pan:
<i>Pr�varicor</i>" (Ainsworth). Bacon, in his Essays "On Cunning," p. 81,
says: "There is a cunning which we in England call 'the turning of the
cat in the pan,' which is when that a man says to another,<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_180" id="Page_180"></SPAN></span> 'he lays it
as if another had said it to him.'" This is somewhat obscure in
definition. Toone says: "The proverbial expression, 'to turn a cat in a
pan,' denotes a sudden change in one's party, or politics, or religion,
for the sake of being in the ascendant, as a cat always comes down on
its legs, however thrown." The Vicar of Bray is quoted as simply a
"turncoat," but this does <i>not</i> affect the argument. I quite think, and
in this others agree with me, that it has nothing to do with the <i>cat</i>,
but was originally cate. In olden times, and until lately, it was the
custom <i>to toss</i> pancakes (to turn them over). It was no easy matter;
frequently the <i>cake</i> or <i>cate</i> went in the fire or lodged in the
chimney. To turn the cat or cate in the pan was to toss and <i>turn it
completely over</i>, that is, from one side to the other. The meaning given
to the phrase <i>helps to prove</i> this view. I merely introduce this
because so many have asked for an explanation as regards "the <i>cat</i> in
pan." I consider the "far-fetched" origins of the term are complete
errors. It was a custom to toss pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, and it
required great skill to do it well, cleanly, and completely. Some cooks
were noted for it, and thought clever if it was done without injury to
themselves or clothes.</p>
<p>It appears from "The Westmoreland Dialect," by A. Walker (1790), that
cock-fighting and "casting" of pancakes were then common in that county,
thus: "Whaar ther wor tae be cock-feightin', for it war pankeak
Tuesday," and "we met sum lads an' lasses gangin' to kest (cast) their
pankeaks."</p>
<hr style="width: 45%;" />
<p><i>To whip the cat.</i>—"To practise the most pinching parsimony, grudging
even the scraps and orts, or remnants of food given to the
cat."—<span class="smcap">Holloway</span> (<i>Norfolk</i>).</p>
<p>A phrase applied to the village tailor going round from house to house
for work.</p>
<p>"To be drunk."—<span class="smcap">Heywood's</span> <i>Philoconothista</i>, 1635, p. 60.</p>
<p>An itinerant parson is said to "whip the cat."</p>
<p>"A trick practised on ignorant country fellows, vain of<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_181" id="Page_181"></SPAN></span> their strength,
by laying a wager with them that they may be pulled through a pond by a
cat. The bet being made, a rope is fixed round the waist of the party to
be catted, and the end thrown across the pond, to which the cat is also
fastened by a pack-thread, and three or four sturdy fellows are
appointed to lead and 'whip the cat.' These, on a signal being given,
seize the end of the cord, and, pretending to whip the cat, haul the
astonished booby through the water."—<span class="smcap">Grose</span>, 1785.</p>
<hr style="width: 45%;" />
<p>The following are culled from the well-known and useful book, Jamieson's
"Scottish Dictionary":</p>
<p><i>Cat.</i>—A small bit of rag, rolled up and put between the handle of a
pot and the hook which suspends it over the fire, to raise it a
little.—<i>Roxb.</i></p>
<p><i>Cat.</i>—A handful of straw, with or without corn upon it, or of reaped
grain, laid on the ground by the reaper without being put into a sheaf
(<i>Roxb., Dumfr.</i>). Perhaps from the Belg. word <i>katt-en</i>, to throw, the
handful of corn being cast on the ground; whence <i>kat</i>, a small anchor.</p>
<p><i>Cat.</i>—The name given to a bit of wood, a horn, or anything which is
struck in place of a ball in certain games.</p>
<p><i>To Cat a Chimney.</i>—To enclose a vent by the process called <i>Cat and
Clay</i> (<i>Teviotd.</i>).</p>
<p><i>Cat and Clay.</i>—The materials of which a mud wall is constructed in
many parts of S. Straw and clay are well wrought together, and being
formed into pretty large rolls, are laid between the different wooden
posts by means of which the wall is formed, and carefully pressed down
so as to incorporate with each other, or with the twigs that are
sometimes plaited from one post to another (<i>S.</i>).</p>
<p><i>Cat and Dog.</i>—The name of an ancient sport (<i>S.</i>). It seems to be an
early form of <i>Cricket.</i> (Query, is this the same as Cat and Trap?)</p>
<p><i>Catband.</i>—1. The name given to the strong hook used on the inside of a
door or gate, which, being fixed to the<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_182" id="Page_182"></SPAN></span> wall, keeps it shut. 2. A chain
drawn across a street for defence in time of war. Germ., <i>kette</i>, a
chain, and <i>band</i>.</p>
<p><i>Cat-fish, Sea-cat.</i>—The sea-wolf (<i>S.</i>). <i>Anarhicas lupus</i> (<span class="smcap">Linn.</span>)
Sw., <i>haf-cat</i>—<i>i.e.</i> sea-cat.—<span class="smcap">Sibbald</span>.</p>
<p><i>Cat-gut.</i>—Thread fucus, or sea laces. <i>Fucus filum</i> (<span class="smcap">Linn.</span>), <i>Orkney</i>,
"Neill's Tour."</p>
<p><i>Cat-Harrow.</i>—"<i>They draw the Cat-Harrow</i>"—that is, they thwart one
another.—<i>Loth. Ang.</i>, <span class="smcap">Lyndsey</span>.</p>
<p><i>Cat-heather.</i>—A finer species of heath, low and slender, growing more
in separate, upright stalks than the common heath, and flowering only at
the top (<i>Aberd.</i>).</p>
<p><i>Cat-hole.</i>—1. The name given to the loop-holes or narrow openings in
the wall of a barn (<i>S.</i>). 2. A sort of niche in the wall of a barn, in
which keys and other necessaries are deposited in the inside, where it
is not perforated.</p>
<p><i>Cat-hud.</i>—The name given to a large stone, which serves as a back to a
fire on the hearth in the house of a cottager (<i>Dumfr.</i>). Sw. G.,
<i>kaette</i>, denotes a small cell or apartment, which corresponds to the
form of the country fireside; also a bed; a pen. <i>Hud</i> might seem allied
to Teut. <i>huyd-en</i>, <i>conservare</i>, as the stone is meant to guard this
enclosure from the effects of the fire.</p>
<p><i>Catling.</i>—Small catgut strings for musical instruments, also a kind of
knife used in surgery.</p>
<p><i>Cat-loup.</i>—1. A very short distance as to space (<i>S.</i>); q. as far as a
cat may leap (<span class="smcap">Hogg</span>). 2. A moment; as, "I'se be wi' ye in a
<i>catloup</i>"—<i>i.e.</i>, instantly. "I will be with you as quickly as a cat
can leap."</p>
<p><i>Catmaw.</i>—"To tumble the <i>catmaw</i>," to go topsy-turvy, to tumble (<i>S.
B.</i>).</p>
<p><i>Catmint.</i>—An herbaceous plant (<i>Mentha felina</i>), that cats delight to
roll on.</p>
<p><i>Cat's Carriage.</i>—The same play that is otherwise called the "King's
Cushion," q.v. (<i>Loth.</i>).<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_183" id="Page_183"></SPAN></span></p>
<p><i>Cat's Cradle.</i>—A plaything for children, made of pack-thread on the
fingers of one person, and transferred from them to those of another
(<i>S.</i>).</p>
<p><i>Cat's Crammocks.</i>—Clouds like hairs streaming from an animal's tail
(<i>Shetland</i>).</p>
<p><i>Cat's Hair.</i>—1. The down that covers unfledged birds (<i>Fife</i>); synon.
<i>Paddockhair</i>. 2. The down on the face of boys before the beard grows
(<i>S.</i>). 3. Applied also to the thin hair that often grows on the bodies
of persons in bad health (<i>S.</i>).</p>
<p><i>Cat-siller.</i>.—The mica of mineralogists (<i>S.</i>); the <i>katzen silber</i> of
the vulgar in Germany. Teut., <i>katten silver</i>, <i>amiantus</i>, <i>mica</i>,
<i>vulgo argentum felium</i>; Kilian.</p>
<p><i>Cat's Lug.</i>—The name given to the <i>Auricula ursi.</i>—<span class="smcap">Linn</span>.
(<i>Roxburgh.</i>).</p>
<p><i>Cat's Stairs.</i>—A plaything for children, made of thread, small cord,
or tape, which is so disposed by the hands as to fall down like steps of
a stair (<i>Dumfr.</i>, <i>Gall.</i>).</p>
<p><i>Catstone.</i>—One of the upright stones which support a grate, there
being one on each side (<i>Roxb.</i>). Since the introduction of Carron
grates these <i>stones</i> are found in kitchens only. The term is said to
originate from this being the favourite seat of the <i>cat.</i> <i>See</i>
Catstone (English).</p>
<p><i>Catstone-head.</i>—The flat top of the Catstone (<i>ibid.</i>).</p>
<p><i>Catsteps.</i>—The projections of the stones in the slanting part of a
gable (<i>Roxb.</i>). <i>Corbie-steps</i>, synon.</p>
<p><i>Cat's-Tails.</i>—Hare's Tail Rush (<i>Eriophorum vaginatum</i>). <span class="smcap">Linn.</span>
<i>Mearns</i>; also called <i>Canna-down</i>, Cat Tails (<i>Galloway</i>).</p>
<p><i>Catten-Clover.</i>, <i>Cat-in-Clover.</i>—The Lotus (<i>South of S.</i>). Sw.,
<i>Katt-klor</i> (Cat's Claws).</p>
<p><i>Catter.</i>—1. Catarrh (<span class="smcap">Bellenden</span>). 2. A supposed disease of the fingers
from handling cats.<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_184" id="Page_184"></SPAN></span></p>
<p><i>Catterbatch.</i>—A broil, a quarrel (<i>Fife</i>). Teut., <i>kater</i>, a he-cat,
and <i>boetse</i>, rendered <i>cavillatio, q.</i>, "a cat's quarrel."</p>
<p><i>Catwittit.</i>—Harebrained, unsettled; <i>q.</i>, having the <i>wits</i> of a <i>cat</i>
(<i>S.</i>).</p>
<p><i>Kittie.</i>—A North-country name for a cat, male or female.</p>
<p><i>Kitling.</i>—Sharp; kitten-like.</p>
<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
<span class="i0">"His <i>kitling</i> eyes begin to run<br/></span>
<span class="i0">Quite through the table where he spies<br/></span>
<span class="i0">The horns of paperie butterflys."<br/></span></div>
</div>
<p style="margin-left: 45%;"><span class="smcap">Herrick</span>, <i>Hesperides</i>.</p>
<p><i>Kittenhood.</i>—State of being a kitten.</p>
<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
<span class="i0">"For thou art as beautiful as ever a cat<br/></span>
<span class="i0">That wantoned in the joy of kittenhood."<br/></span></div>
</div>
<p style="margin-left: 45%;"><span class="smcap">Southey</span>.</p>
<p><i>Kittenish</i>, kitten-like.</p>
<p>"Such a kittenish disposition in her, I called it; ...the love of
playfulness."—<span class="smcap">Richardson</span>.</p>
<p><i>Kit</i>, or <i>kitten.</i>—A young cat. A young cat is a kitten until it is
full-grown, then kittenhood ceases.</p>
<p>A school-boy being asked to describe a <i>kitten</i>, replied: "A <i>kitten</i> is
chiefly remarkable for rushing like mad at nothing whatever, and
generally stopping before it gets there."</p>
<p><i>Puss gentleman.</i>—An effeminate man.—<span class="smcap">Davis</span>, <i>Glossary.</i></p>
<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
<span class="i0">"I cannot talk with civet in th' room,<br/></span>
<span class="i0">A fine puss gentleman that's all perfume."<br/></span></div>
</div>
<p style="margin-left: 45%;"><span class="smcap">Cowper's</span> <i>Conversations.</i><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_185" id="Page_185"></SPAN></span></p>
<p><br/><br/><br/><br/></p>
<div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />