Synonyms for cats

Grammar : Noun

Spell : kat

Phonetic Transcription : kæt

Top 10 synonyms for cats

Other synonyms for the word cats

Définition of cats

Origin : Old English catt (c.700), from West Germanic (c.400-450), from Proto-Germanic *kattuz (cf. Old Frisian katte, Old Norse köttr, Dutch kat, Old High German kazza, German Katze), from Late Latin cattus.
The near-universal European word now, it appeared in Europe as Latin catta (Martial, c.75 C.E.), Byzantine Greek katta (c.350) and was in general use on the continent by c.700, replacing Latin feles. Probably ultimately Afro-Asiatic (cf. Nubian kadis, Berber kadiska, both meaning "cat"). Arabic qitt "tomcat" may be from the same source. Cats were domestic in Egypt from c.2000 B.C.E., but not a familiar household animal to classical Greeks and Romans. The nine lives have been proverbial since at least 1560s.
The Late Latin word also is the source of Old Irish and Gaelic cat, Welsh kath, Breton kaz, Italian gatto, Spanish gato, French chat (12c.). Independent, but ultimately from the same source are words in the Slavic group: Old Church Slavonic kotuka, kotel'a, Bulgarian kotka, Russian koška, Polish kot, along with Lithuanian kate and non-Indo-European Finnish katti, which is from Lithuanian.
Extended to lions, tigers, etc. c.1600. As a term of contempt for a woman, from early 13c. Slang sense of "prostitute" is from at least c.1400. Slang sense of "fellow, guy," is from 1920, originally in U.S. Black English; narrower sense of "jazz enthusiast" is recorded from 1931.
Cat's paw (1769, but cat's foot in the same sense, 1590s) refers to old folk tale in which the monkey tricks the cat into pawing chestnuts from a fire; the monkey gets the nuts, the cat gets a burnt paw. Cat bath "hurried or partial cleaning" is from 1953. Cat burglar is from 1907, so called for stealth. Cat-witted "small-minded, obstinate, and spiteful" (1670s) deserved to survive. For Cat's meow, cat's pajamas, see bee's knees.

noun feline animal, sometimes a pet

Example sentences :

You miserable little beast—with cats everywhere, and not a nut for miles!
Extract from : « K » by Mary Roberts Rinehart

Some cats are black, some brown, some white, some "arf and arf."
Extract from : « Punchinello, Vol. 1, No. 15, July 9, 1870 » by Various

Cats are very fond of birds--when they can get 'em, "otherwise not."
Extract from : « Punchinello, Vol. 1, No. 15, July 9, 1870 » by Various

And I don't think that cats have forgotten to this day the importance they had in Egypt.
Extract from : « It Happened in Egypt » by C. N. Williamson

You will listen at night whether our garden is not resorted to by cats.
Extract from : « The Black Tulip » by Alexandre Dumas (Pere)

But of course there is a fashion in cats, as in everything else.
Extract from : « Concerning Cats » by Helen M. Winslow

Their heads are small and narrow, with noses that seem pointed when compared with other cats.
Extract from : « Concerning Cats » by Helen M. Winslow

In Geneva cats prowl about the streets like dogs at Constantinople.
Extract from : « Concerning Cats » by Helen M. Winslow

Those wanting to get rid of cats take them there and deposit them.
Extract from : « Concerning Cats » by Helen M. Winslow

There is a small kitchen for cooking the meals for the cats, and this is fitted with every requisite.
Extract from : « Concerning Cats » by Helen M. Winslow

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