Main Entry: ¹cat

Pronunciation: \ˈkat\

Function: 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