cat's-paw
noun
\
Definition of cat's-paw
1 : a light air that ruffles the surface of the water in irregular patches during a calm
2 [ from the fable of the monkey that used a cat's paw to draw chestnuts from the fire ] : one used by another as a tool : dupe the … government became the cat's-paw for foreign powers— D. J. Boorstin
3 : a hitch knot formed with two eyes for attaching a line to a hook — see knot illustration
Synonyms for cat's-paw
Synonyms
instrument, lay figure, pawn, puppet, tool
Visit the Thesaurus for More
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on cat's-paw
What made you want to look up cat's-paw? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Great Scrabble Words—A Quiz
-
- Which of the following Q-without-U words means the number five in cards or dice?
Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZ
Share cat's-paw
Resources for cat's-paw