• CAT
n. 1. a1225 – a term of contempt for a person; esp. one who scratches like a cat; a spiteful or backbiting woman; a mean, cunning woman; a shrewish man
n. 2. 1535 sl. – a prostitute or immoral woman; a low woman
n. 3. 1912 Amer. dial. – an expert
n. 4. 1920 sl., orig. African-American – a male person; a fellow
n. 5. 1935 Amer. dial., orig. Black jazz musicians – a performer or aficionado of jazz music
n. 6. 1938 Amer. dial., esp. among African-Americans – a good fellow; a guy
n. 7. 1950 Amer. dial. – the game of tic-tac-toe
n. 8. 1950s Amer. sl. – a hip person
n. 9. 1965 Amer. dial. – whisky, esp. moonshine
n. 10. 1966 Amer. dial. – a simple raft
vb. 1. 1785 sl. – to vomit
vb. 2. 1900 Amer. dial. – to court or pursue a woman
vb. 3. 1938 Amer. dial., chiefly among African-Americans – to gad about; to fool around
• CATABALLITIVE
adj. 1815 nonce word – tending to throw down
• CATABAPTIST
n. 1561 obs. – one who is an adversary to baptism
• CATABIAS
adj. 1950 Amer. dial. – out of line, askew, awry, diagonal
adv. 1950 Amer. dial. – diagonally
• CATABIASSED
adj. 1895 Amer. dial. – out of line, askew, awry, diagonal
• CATACATHOLIC
adj. 1608 nonce word obs. – Catholic
• CATACHRESIS
n. 1589 – improper use of words; abuse or perversion of a metaphor
• CATACHRESTIC
adj. 1656 – wrongly used, misapplied, as when one word is improperly put for another
• CATACHTHONIAN
adj. 1888 – underground, subterranean
• CATACHTHONIC
adj. 1884 – underground, subterranean
• CATACLASM
n. 1829 – a break or disruption
• CATACLASMIC
adj. 1888 – pert. to a violent disruption
• CATACLYSM
n. 1. 1633 – a political or social upheaval which sweeps away the old order of things
n. 2. 1637 – a great and general flood of water; a deluge
• CATACLYSMAL
adj. 1857 – causing sudden and violent upheaval
• CATACLYSMATIC
adj. 1883 – causing sudden and violent upheaval
• CATACLYSMIC
adj. 1851 – causing sudden and violent upheaval
• CATACLYSTIC
adj. 1864 rare – causing sudden and violent upheaval
• CATACOMB
n. 1795 – a compartment in a cellar with recesses for storing wine
• CATACORNER
adv. 1908 Amer. dial. – diagonally, across from
vb. 1902 Amer. dial. – (as ‘cat-a-corner’) to move diagonally
• CATACORNERED
adj. 1896 Amer. dial. – diagonal, in the opposite corner, askew, awry
adv. 1908 Amer. dial. – diagonally, across from
• CATACORNERS
adv. 1908 Amer. dial. – diagonally, across from
• CATACUMBAL
adj. 1865 rare – of or resembling a catacomb
• CATADUPE
n. 1596 obs. – a cataract or waterfall, orig. those of the Nile
• CATADUPES
n. 1607 – the dwellers by the cataracts of the Nile
• CATAGLOTTISM
n. 1656 – a kissing with the tongue; a thrusting out the tongue in kissing → obs.
• CATAGLYPHIC
adj. 1708 obs. rare – of carving out or incising
• CATAGOGGLE
vb. 1939 Amer. dial. – to walk sideways
• CATAGORRICKY
adv. 1969 Amer. dial. – turned the wrong way round
• CATAGRAPH
n. 1656 obs. – the first draught or delineation of a picture
• CATAIAN
n. 1. 1577 obs. – a man of Cathay or China
n. 2. 1598 obs. – a rogue, a scoundrel, a rascal, a knave, a blackguard; a sharper
• CATALLACTIC
adj. 1862 – pert. to exchange
• CATALLACTICALLY
adv. 1862 – by way of exchange
• CATALLACTICS
n. 1831 – a proposed name for political economy as the ‘science of exchanges’
• CATALOGIC
adj. 1882 – pert. to a catalogue
• CATALOGICAL
adj. 1882 – pert. to a catalogue
• CATALOGISTIC
adj. 1840 rare – pert. to cataloguing
• CATALOGIZE
vb. 1. 1602 obs. – to reckon up, to calculate
vb. 2. 1632 obs. – to insert in a catalogue
• CATALOGUE
n. 1460 arch. – a list, register, or complete enumeration
• CATALOG WOMAN
n. 1928 Amer. dial. – a wife obtained through a matrimonial bureau
• CATALYSIS
n. 1655 obs. rare – dissolution, destruction, ruin
• CATAMARAN
n. 1. 1785 sl. – an old, scraggy woman; a quarrelsome or offensive woman
n. 2. 1836 US sl. – a worthless person
• CATAMIDIATE
vb. 1656 – to put one to open shame and punishment for some notorious offense; to scorn, to defame → obs.
• CATAMITE
n. 1593 arch. – a boy kept for unnatural purposes’; a boy kept for homosexual purposes
• CATAMOUNT
n. 1. 1664 obs. – a panther or leopard
n. 2. 1698 Amer. dial. – the lynx
n. 3. 1713 US – a puma, cougar, or mountain lion
• CATAMOUNTAIN
n. 1. 1432-50 – the leopard or panther
n. 2. 1616 – a wild man from the mountains
• CAT-AND-DOG
adj. 1579 – full of strife, inharmonious; quarrelsome
• CAT-AND-DOGGISH
adj. 1878 – characterized by quarrelling
• CAT AND MOUSE
n. 1950 Amer. dial. – the game of tic-tac-toe
• CAT AND RAT
n. 1950 Amer. dial. – the game of tic-tac-toe
• CAT-AND-RAT RIFLE
n. 1940 Amer. dial. – a small-calibre rifle
• CATAPELTIC
adj. 1849 rare – pert. to a catapult
n. 1864 rare – a catapult
• CATAPHOR
n. 1656 obs. – a deep sleep
• CATAPHRACT
n. 1. 1581 obs. – an ancient coat of mail
n. 2. 1671 – a soldier in full armour
• CATAPHYSIC
adj. 1654 obs. – contrary to nature
• CATAPHYSICAL
adj. 1839 nonce word – against nature; unnatural
• CATAPLASM
n. 1563 – a poultice
• CATAPLECTIC
adj. 1883 – pert. to hypnotism
• CATAPLEXY
n. 1883 – the temporary paralysis or hypnotic state in animals when ‘shamming death’
• CATARACT
n. 1. 1594 – a waterfall; properly one of considerable size, and falling headlong over a precipice
n. 2. 1634 – a violent downpour or rush of water
• CATARACTIC
adj. 1693 obs. – of the nature of a cataract
• CATARACTICAL
adj. 1693 obs. – of the nature of a cataract
• CATARACTINE
adj. 1856 – of the nature of a cataract
• CATARRH
n. 1533 obs. – the profuse discharge from nose and eyes with generally accompanies a cold, and which was formerly supposed to run down from the brain; a ‘running at the nose’
• CAT AROUND
vb. 1938 Amer. dial., chiefly among African-Americans – to gad about; to fool around
• CATARUMPUS
n. 1848 US sl. – a commotion, a rumpus
• CATASKEUASTIC
adj. 1645 obs. rare – constructive
• CATASOPHISTRY
n. 1609 obs. rare – quibbling, deceit
• CATASTA
n. 1. 1650 – a block on which slaves were exposed for sale
n. 2. 1650 humorous usage, obs. – the stocks
• CATASTERFY
n. 1844 Amer. dial. – a catastrophe
• CATASTERISM
n. 1837 – a constellation
• CATASTROPHAL
adj. 1842 – of the nature of a catastrophe; disastrous
• CATASTROPHE
n. 1597 humorous usage, obs. – the posteriors
• CATASTROPHIZE
vb. 1623 obs. – to end a comedy or the like
• CATASTROPHONICAL
adj. 1605 obs. – a nonsense word; ‘A signe of good shaving, my catastrophonicall fine boy.’
• CATASTRUM
n. 1623 obs. – the deck of a ship
• CATAWAMPERED
adj. 1965 Amer. dial. – askew, awry, wrong
• CATAWAMPIOUSLY
adv. 1836 Amer. dial. obs. – utterly, completely
• CATAWAMPIST
adj. 1965 Amer. dial. – askew, awry, wrong
• CATAWAMPOUS
adj. 1. 1856 sl., chiefly US – fierce, unsparing, destructive
adj. 2. 1891 Amer. dial. obs. – askew, awry, wrong
adv. 1940 Amer. dial. – utterly, completely
• CATAWAMPOUSLY
adv. 1834 Amer. sl. – utterly, vigorously, completely; fiercely, eagerly, violently
• CATAWAMPTIOUS
adj. 1856 sl., chiefly US – fierce, unsparing, destructive
• CATAWAMPTIOUSLY
adv. 1857 Amer. sl. – utterly, vigorously, completely; fiercely, eagerly, violently
• CATAWAMPUS
adj. 1. 1884 Amer. dial. – askew, awry, wrong
adj. 2. 1911 Amer. dial. – crosswise, diagonal
adj. 3. 1972 Amer. dial. – big and fine
adv. 1908 Amer. dial. – diagonally, obliquely
int. 1938 Amer. dial. – an exclamation
n. 1. 1843 Amer. dial. – a spiteful person
n. 2. 1843 Amer. dial. – an imaginary monster; a hobgoblin
n. 3. 1874 – a fierce creature, vermin, or the like
vb. 1. 1902 Amer. dial. – to move diagonally
vb. 2. 1906 Amer. dial. – to put out of proper shape; to warp
• CATAWAMPUS CAT
n. 1915 Amer. dial. – a virago; a violent or bad-tempered woman
• CATAWAMPUS-CORNER
vb. 1906 Amer. dial. – to worry
• CATAWAMPUSED
adj. 1965 Amer. dial. – askew, awry, wrong
• CATAWAMUS
adj. 1965 Amer. dial. – askew, awry, wrong
• CATAWAPUS
adj. 1965 Amer. dial. – askew, awry, wrong
• CATAWHAMPIT
adj. 1965 Amer. dial. – askew, awry, wrong
• CATAWHAMPUS
adj. 1965 Amer. dial. – askew, awry, wrong
• CATAWHOBBLED
adj. 1965 Amer. dial. – askew, awry, wrong
• CATAWHOMPERED
adj. 1965 Amer. dial. – askew, awry, wrong
• CATAWUMPUS
adj. 1965 Amer. dial. – askew, awry, wrong
• CAT BATH
n. 1953 Amer. dial. – a hurried or partial cleaning
• CAT BEER
n. World War II Amer. sl. – milk
• CATBIRD
n. 1931 Amer. dial. – a mischievous, sly or cunning person
• CATBIRD SEAT
n. 1943 Amer. dial. – a prominent or especially favourable position
• CAT-BLASH
n. 1. 19C Eng. dial. – a weak, worthless drink; any thin liquid, as weak tea
n. 2. 19C Eng. dial. – worthless or silly talk: a weak argument
• CAT BOIL
n. 1950 Amer. dial. – an infected swelling on the skin; a small infected pimple, usually on the face
• CAT BRITCHES
n. 1966 Amer. dial. – the wild snapdragon
• CATCH
n. 1. c1430 obs. – a trick
n. 2. c1450 Sc. obs. – a chase, pursuit
n. 3. c1475 Sc. obs. – tennis
n. 4. a1672 obs. – ‘Jack Ketch’; the hangman
n. 5. 1674 obs. – a catching or entangling question
n. 6. 1775 obs. – a catching sight; a glimpse, view
n. 7. 1791 obs. – a kedge, a small anchor
n. 8. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an attractive young woman
n. 9. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – something excellent
n. 10. 1954 Amer. dial. – a sudden, sharp pain in the back, side, or neck; a stitch
vb. 1. c1205 obs. – to take forcible possession of, to capture a town, castle, ship, country, etc.
vb. 2. c1205 obs. – to receive, to get, to obtain
vb. 3. c1250 obs. – to chase, to drive
vb. 4. c1325 obs. – to chase, to run, to hasten; to press on
vb. 5. 1382 – to deceive, to ‘take in’
vb. 6. 1382 obs. – to obtain by exertion; to attain, to get possession of
vb. 7. c1400 obs. rare – to fasten, to attach
vb. 8. 1628 – to carp, to criticize
vb. 9. 1879 Amer. dial. – to freeze
vb. 10. 1912 Amer. dial. – to become pregnant; to make pregnant
vb. 11. 1928 Amer. dial. – to assist in the delivery of a baby
vb. 12. 1946 Amer. dial. – to undergo or suffer an unpleasant experience; to encounter an adverse condition of weather
vb. 13. 1968 Amer. dial. – of a muscle or joint: to experience sudden sharp pain
• CATCH A COLD
vb. 1. L18 sl. – to get into trouble, possibly through impetuousness
vb. 2. L18 sl. – to lose out financially, possibly after purchasing a supposed ‘bargain’, which proves to be otherwise
• CATCH A CRAB
vb. 1. 1968 Amer. dial. – to do a belly-flop; to dive in such a way that the body strikes flat against the water
vb. 2. 1975 Amer. dial. – to mishandle oars while rowing, so that there is a splash of water
• CATCH ACTION
n. 1960s African-American sl. – a young woman, typically runaways who have just arrived in the big city and are vulnerable to being recruited as prostitutes
• CATCH A DUCK ASLEEP
vb. 1843 Amer. dial. – to take a shrewd person off his guard; to catch off guard or unaware; to surprise
• CATCH A FACE
vb. 1974 Amer. sl. – to get intoxicated on alcohol or drugs
• CATCH A FOX
vb. L17 sl. – to be very drunk
• CATCH A GLAD
vb. 20C W. Indies sl. – to experience an outburst of spontaneous joy
• CATCH A HARE WITH A TABOR
vb. 1546 obs. – to seek to do something almost impossible
• CATCH A HORSE
vb. 20C Aust. sl. – to urinate
• CATCH AIR
vb. 1937 Amer. dial. – to run very fast
• CATCH A LISTEN
vb. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – to listen
• CATCH AN F
vb. 1990s African-American sl. – to be arrested for a felony
• CATCH A PACKET
vb. 1925 sl. – to suffer trouble or misfortune
• CATCH AS CAN
adv. 1960 Amer. dial. – in a haphazard fashion
• CATCH AT A STRAW
vb. 1748 – to resort in desperation to any utterly inadequate expedient, like a person drowning
• CATCH AT STRAWS
vb. 1578 – to resort in desperation to any utterly inadequate expedient, like a person drowning
• CATCH AWAY
vb. 1. c1325 obs. – to chase away
vb. 2. c1325 – to seize and take away; to snatch away
• CATCH A WEASEL ASLEEP
vb. 1825 Amer. dial. – to take a shrewd person off his guard; to catch off guard or unaware; to surprise
• CATCH BUGS
vb. to stare with one’s mouth open …1965 Amer. dial.
• CATCH-CLOAK
n. a coiner of false money …1679 obs.
• CATCH-COIN
n. a greedy or covetous judge …1611 obs.
• CATCH COLD
vb. 1. to get into trouble, possibly through impetuousness …L18 sl.
vb. 2. to lose out financially, possibly after purchasing a supposed ‘bargain’, which proves to be otherwise …L18 sl.
• CATCH-COLT
n. 1. an illegitimate child …1901 Amer. dial.
n. 2. a colt that as unintentionally bred …1940 Amer. dial.
• CATCH-DOTTEREL
n. ? a cheat, a sharper …1671 obs.
• CATCHEE
n. one who is caught …1839 nonce word
• CATCH-‘EM-ALIVE-O
n. fly-paper for catching flies …1855 sl.
• CATCHER
n. 1. c1340 obs. rare – one who chases or drives; a huntsman
n. 2. 1837 US sl. – a watchman or policeman
n. 3. 1917 Amer. dial. – the children’s game of tag
n. 4. 1945 US sl. – in boxing: a boxer who ‘catches everything the other guys throws at him’
• CATCHER’S MITT
n. 1984 US sl. – a contraceptive diaphragm
• CATCH FARTS WITH A HOOK
vb. 1972 Amer. sl. – to do something stupid or useless
• CATCH FIRE
vb. 1734 – to become inflamed or inspired with passion, zeal, etc.
• CATCH FLAT-FOOTED
vb. 20C Brit. colloq. – to catch off guard or unawares
• CATCH FLIES
vb. 1. 1941 Amer. dial. – to stare with one’s mouth open
vb. 2. 1965 Amer. dial. – to yawn
• CATCH GNATS
vb. 1965 Amer. dial. – to stare with one’s mouth open
• CATCH GOUDY
vb. 1899 Amer. dial. – to get a beating
• CATCH HIM!
int. 1950 Amer. dial. – used as a response when someone sneezes
• CATCHING
adj. 1. 1603 – entrapping; deceptive, ‘catchy’
adj. 2. c1611 – in an uncertain or precarious state
adj. 3. 1654 – attractive, captivating
adj. 4. 1931-33 Amer. dial. – of weather: changeable, unpredictable
• CATCH IT
int. 1950 Amer. dial. – used as a response when someone sneezes
vb. 1835 sl. – to get into trouble, usually with the implication of punishment
• CATCH IT IN THE NECK
vb. 1835 sl. – to get into trouble, usually with the implication of punishment
• CATCH IT WHERE THE CHICKEN GOT IT
vb. 1942 Amer. sl. – to be punished
• CATCH ME!
int. 1830 colloq. – expresses emphatically that one will never be found doing a thing
• CATCH ME AT IT!
int. 1830 colloq. – expresses emphatically that one will never be found doing a thing
• CATCH MOSES
vb. M19 sl. – to receive a severe beating or punishment
• CATCH NAPPING
vb. 1587 sl. – to take unawares
• CATCH OFF
vb. c1420 obs. – to snatch or take off
• CATCH ON
vb. 1884 sl., orig. US – to understand or realize the meaning of something
• CATCH ONE
vb. 20C teen & high school sl. – to get drunk on beer
• CATCH ONE’S DEATH
vb. 1712 sl. – to catch a bad cold
• CATCH ON TO
vb. 1884 sl., orig. US – to understand or realize the meaning of something
• CATCH OVER
vb. to freeze over …1886
• CATCH-PAIN
n. a sharp, sudden pain, usually in the side …1965 Amer. dial.
• CATCHPENNY
adj. designed to attract purchasers; got up merely to s ell …1759
n. 1. something of little value, esp. a publication, designed to attract purchasers …1760
n. 2. something cheap or showy made to be sold for a quick profit …1912 Amer. dial.
• CATCHPOLE
n. 1. a tax-gatherer, an exactor of taxes or imposts; a (Roman) publican …a1050 obs.
n. 2. a petty officer of justice; a sheriff’s officer or sergeant; esp. a warrant officer who arrests for debt, a bum-bailiff …1377
n. 3. tennis …1663 obs.
• CATCHPOLL
n. 1. a tax-gatherer, an exactor of taxes or imposts; a (Roman) publican …a1050 obs.
n. 2. a petty officer of justice; a sheriff’s officer or sergeant; esp. a warrant officer who arrests for debt, a bum-bailiff …1377
• CATCHPULE
n. 1663 obs. – tennis
• CATCH SOME RAYS
vb. 1960s Amer. sl. – to sunbathe
• CATCH SOME Z’S
vb. 1963 US sl. – to sleep
• CATCH THE BALL BEFORE THE BOUND
vb. 1589 – to anticipate an opportunity
• CATCH THE WIND OF THE WORD
vb. B1900 Irish – to quickly understand the meaning of what is said, to catch on
• CATCH THE WIND WITH A NET
vb. 1868 – to attempt the impossible
• CATCH UP
vb. 1840 – to interrupt, to stop
• CATCHY
adj. 1. 1804 – merry, jocund → Sc.
adj. 2. 1831 – attractive, ‘taking’ → colloq.
adj. 3. 1872 – occurring in snatches, fitful, spasmodic → colloq.
adj. 4. 1885 – that catches or entraps; deceptive → colloq.
adj. 5. 1894 – of weather: changeable, unpredictable → Amer. dial.
adj. 6. 1895 – impatient, irritable → Amer. dial.
• CATCHY NUMBER
n. 1. 1942 – an attractive girl → Amer. students’ sl. (Bk.)
n. 2. 1942 – something beautiful or attractive → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
• CATCLAW AND UNDERBRUSH
n. 1967 – a branch railroad that is not very important → Amer. dial.
• CAT-CLAWED
adj. 1967 – poorly sewn → Amer. dial.
• CAT CLEANING
n. 1968 – a hurried or partial cleaning → Amer. dial.
• CAT-CORNERED
adv. 1941 – diagonally, across from → Amer. dial.
• CAT DOCTOR
n. 1956 – a mechanic who services track-laying vehicles, as Caterpillar tractors; a tractor mechanic → US sl.
• CATE
n. 1634 – a delicacy, a tidbit → obs.
vb. 1617 – to prepare or dress food → obs.
• CATECHISM
n. 1596 – a course of question and answer; a course of interrogation put to candidates, etc.
• CATECHIZE
vb. 1. 1604 – to question or interrogate systematically or at length; esp. to question or examine with a view to reproof or condemnation; to take to task
vb. 2. 1621 – to instruct orally in any subject → obs.
• CATER
vb. 1902 – to move diagonally or obliquely → Amer. dial.
• CATERBIAS
adj. 1968 – out of line, askew, awry, diagonal → Amer. dial.
adv. 1965 – diagonally → Amer. dial.
• CATERCAWNERED
adv. 1953 – diagonally, across from → Amer. dial.
• CATER-CORN
adv. 1965 – diagonally, across from → Amer. dial.
vb. 1965 – to move diagonally → Amer. dial.
• CATER-CORNER
adj. 1965 – out of line, askew, awry → Amer. dial.
adv. 1965 – diagonally, across from → Amer. dial.
vb. 1888 – to move diagonally → Amer. dial.
• CATER-CORNERED
adj. 1899 – out of line, askew, awry → Amer. dial.
adv. 1941 – diagonally, across from → Amer. dial.
• CATER-COUSIN
n. 1. 1547 – an intimate friend
n. 2. ..18C – (doubtful) a fourth cousin; a remote relation
• CATERING
adj. 1966 – diagonal; askew → Amer. dial.
adv. 1894 – diagonally → Amer. dial.
• CATERPILLAR
vb. 1. 1891 – to have goose-flesh → Amer. dial.
vb. 2. 1902 – to depart silently → US sl.
• CATERPILLAR’S KIMONO
n. 1942 – something excellent → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
• CATERWAMPUST
adv. 1906 – diagonally, obliquely → Amer. dial.
• CATERWAUL
vb. 1785 – to roam at night, as in search of sexual partners → sl.
• CATERWAY
adv. 1941 – diagonally across an intersection of two streets → Amer. dial.
• CATES
n. 1465 – things purchased; such provisions as were not made in the house, but had to be purchased fresh when wanted, as meat, fish, etc.; hence, all provisions except the home produce of the baker and brewer; dainties, delicacies; in later use, sometimes merely victuals, food → obs.
• CAT-EYE
n. 1977 – a late-night work-shift → US sl.
• CAT-EYED
adj. 1. 1934 – cautious → US West. sl.
adj. 2. 1944 – having watchful eyes → Amer. dial.
adj. 3. 1965 – having piercing or sharp eyes → Amer. dial.
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Lexicophilia 