cat \cat\ (k[a^]t), n. [AS. cat; akin to D. & Dan. kat, Sw.
   katt, Icel. k["o]ttr, G. katze, kater, Ir. cat, W. cath,
   Armor. kaz, LL. catus, Bisc. catua, NGr. ga`ta, ga`tos, Russ.
   & Pol. kot, Turk. kedi, Ar. qitt; of unknown origin. Cf.
   Kitten.]
   1. (Zool.) Any animal belonging to the natural family
      Felidae, and in particular to the various species of the
      genera Felis, Panthera, and Lynx. The domestic cat
      is Felis domestica. The European wild cat (Felis
      catus) is much larger than the domestic cat. In the
      United States the name wild cat is commonly applied to
      the bay lynx (Lynx rufus). The larger felines, such as
      the lion, tiger, leopard, and cougar, are often referred
      to as cats, and sometimes as big cats. See Wild cat, and
      Tiger cat.
      [1913 Webster +PJC]

   Note: The domestic cat includes many varieties named from
         their place of origin or from some peculiarity; as, the
         Angora cat; the Maltese cat; the Manx cat; the
         Siamese cat.
         [1913 Webster]

               Laying aside their often rancorous debate over
               how best to preserve the Florida panther, state
               and federal wildlife officials,
               environmentalists, and independent scientists
               endorsed the proposal, and in 1995 the eight cats
               [female Texas cougars] were brought from Texas
               and released. . . .
               Uprooted from the arid hills of West Texas, three
               of the imports have died, but the remaining five
               adapted to swamp life and have each given birth
               to at least one litter of kittens. --Mark Derr
                                                  (N. Y. Times,
                                                  Nov. 2, 1999,
                                                  Science Times
                                                  p. F2).
         [PJC]

   Note: The word cat is also used to designate other animals,
         from some fancied resemblance; as, civet cat, fisher
         cat, catbird, catfish shark, sea cat.
         [1913 Webster]

   2. (Naut.)
      (a) A strong vessel with a narrow stern, projecting
          quarters, and deep waist. It is employed in the coal
          and timber trade.
      (b) A strong tackle used to draw an anchor up to the
          cathead of a ship. --Totten.
          [1913 Webster]

   3. A double tripod (for holding a plate, etc.), having six
      feet, of which three rest on the ground, in whatever
      position it is placed.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. An old game; specifically:
      (a) The game of tipcat and the implement with which it is
          played. See Tipcat.
      (b) A game of ball, called, according to the number of
          batters, one old cat, two old cat, etc.
          [1913 Webster]

   5. same as cat o' nine tails; as, British sailors feared
      the cat.
      [1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5]

   6. A catamaran.
      [PJC]

   Angora cat, blind cat, See under Angora, Blind.

   Black cat the fisher. See under Black.

   Cat and dog, like a cat and dog; quarrelsome; inharmonious.
      "I am sure we have lived a cat and dog life of it."
      --Coleridge.

   Cat block (Naut.), a heavy iron-strapped block with a large
      hook, part of the tackle used in drawing an anchor up to
      the cathead.

   Cat hook (Naut.), a strong hook attached to a cat block.

   Cat nap, a very short sleep. [Colloq.]

   Cat o' nine tails, an instrument of punishment consisting
      of nine pieces of knotted line or cord fastened to a
      handle; -- formerly used to flog offenders on the bare
      back.

   Cat's cradle, game played, esp. by children, with a string
      looped on the fingers so, as to resemble small cradle. The
      string is transferred from the fingers of one to those of
      another, at each transfer with a change of form. See
      Cratch, Cratch cradle.

   To bell the cat, to perform a very dangerous or very
      difficult task; -- taken metaphorically from a fable about
      a mouse who proposes to put a bell on a cat, so as to be
      able to hear the cat coming.

   To let the cat out of the bag, to tell a secret, carelessly
      or willfully. [Colloq.]

   Bush cat, the serval. See Serval.
      [1913 Webster]