̈ɪkæt 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. øcat-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]
