Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Cat \Cat\, n. [AS. cat; akin to D. & Dan. kat, Sw. kett, Icel.
   k["o]ttr, G. katze, kater, Ir. Cat, W. cath, Armor. kaz, LL.
   catus, Bisc. catua, NGr. ?, ?, Russ. & Pol. cot, Turk. kedi,
   Ar. qitt; of unknown origin. CF. {Ketten}.]
   1. (Zo["o]l.) An animal of various species of the genera
      {Felis} 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}) See
      {Wild cat}, and {Tiger cat}.

   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}.

   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.

   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.

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

   4. An old game;
      (a) The game of tipcat and the implement with which it is
          played. See {Tipcat}.
      (c) A game of ball, called, according to the number of
          batters, one old cat, two old cat, etc.

   5. A cat o' nine tails. See below.

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

   {Bush cat}, the serval. See {Serval}.