to cat
- verb
- /kæt/
- NSFW
- In the old navy, they would cat sailors for serious infractions.
Examples
-
He was threatened with being catted if he disobeyed the officer's orders.
-
The sailor was catted for his disobedience.
-
The captain ordered the men to cat the thief before the whole crew.
-
They cat the crew for their misconduct!
-
In the past, sailors knew that failure to follow orders could result in being catted by the captain.
-
The punishment for insubordination in the navy was to cat the offending sailor as a warning to others.
-
To maintain discipline, the officers would threaten to cat any crew member who disobeyed their commands.
Idioms
- Informal
A humorous remark to greet someone who arrives unexpectedly or looking messy
- Informal
A person who looks very pleased because they have a secret success
A thing or deal you accept before you know its real value that often turns out disappointing
Very nervous and unable to stay still because of worry or excitement
To smile in a proud, secret way because you feel pleased with yourself
To say or do something that causes strong reactions and confusion among people
Phrasal Verbs
Compounds
- Specialized
A medical test that makes detailed pictures of the inside of the body using X-rays
- Baby Talk
A children's game where players hold hands in a circle and try to catch someone inside
A person who quietly climbs into buildings through upper windows or roofs to steal things
- Indian
A medium-sized wild cat that lives near rivers and in grasslands in Asia and northeastern Africa
A slim short-haired cat with blue eyes and a pale body with darker ears, face, paws, and tail tip
- US
A raccoon-like animal from Mexico and southwestern US with a long bushy tail with black-and-white rings
- NSFW
A whip with nine knotted cords used to beat people as punishment, often on ships or in prisons
- Specialized
A machine that makes detailed pictures of the inside of the body using X-ray images from different angles
A medium wild cat from Central and South America with dark stripes that lives in forests
- Specialized
A vehicle that moves on snow using wide tracks and sometimes skis to carry people or goods
- Specialized
A small animal like a house cat or wildcat that cannot roar, unlike lions
Small wild cat with long body and tail that looks like a weasel and lives in tropical Americas
A small cat-like animal from Asia or Africa that makes a strong smell used in perfume
- US
A large dark brown North American animal that climbs trees to hunt small animals
A small wild cat from Central and South America that is active at night and has dark spots
- Australian
A small Australian animal that looks like a cat and carries its babies in a pouch
A large freshwater catfish with long whiskers and blue-gray color that lives in the Mississippi River
- UK
A small reddish-brown animal like a raccoon that lives in the eastern Himalayas and eats bamboo
- Specialized
An infection from a cat scratch or bite that makes nearby glands swell and is usually mild
- Specialized
A small wild cat that lives in Central Asian mountains and has very thick fur
- Baby Talk
A circle game where players join hands and raise them to let a child pass while another catches them
An animal like a raccoon that has a long bushy tail with black and white rings
- UK
A small reddish-brown tree squirrel from Europe and Asia with small fur tufts on its ears
- UK
A small plant from the Mediterranean with reddish-purple flowers that attracts cats
- Specialized
A machine at an oil plant that turns heavy oil into lighter fuel like petrol or diesel
How Severe
Surface Forms
Etymology
Cat as a verb to beat someone comes from the name cat-o'-nine-tails, the whip used for punishment, and so the verb meant to give that beating. That's why the old naval order to 'cat' someone meant to punish them with the whip.