Heading
version occurs in John Sambucus' Emblemata (Plantin, Antwerp, 1564), where the sufferer is a dog, and not a cat. There is, however, a story of the same kind told (Maiol. Coll. vii., scil Simon Maiolus, Astensis, Episcopus Vulturariensis, Dies Caniculares, h.e. Colloquia XXIII., Physica, Collog. vii., p. 249, Ursellis, 1600) of Pope Julius II., 1503-13 [see N. and Q., 6 S., viii., 35.]
[1657. M. Hawke. Killing is murder. These he useth as the Monkey did the cat's paw to scrape the nuts out of the fire.]
1782. Geo. Parker, Humorous Sketches, p. 140. They lug in Spain, to their assistance, a cat's-paw made.
1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, ch. lvi. Sir Robert, who had rather begun to suspect that his plebeian neighbour had made a cat's-paw of him, inclined his head stiffly.
1878. M. E. Braddon, Cloven Foot, ch. xli. He felt angry with himself for having been in some wise a cat's-paw to serve the young man's malice.
Cat-Sticks, subs. (old).—Thin
legs. [In comparison to the stick
used by boys in the game of tip-*cat.]
For synonyms see Drumsticks.
1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.
Cat's-Water, subs. (common).—Gin.
[From cat, a woman +
water, a white liquid.] Cf.,
Bitches' wine = champagne.
For synonyms, see Drinks.
Cattie, adj. and adv. (printers').—An
imperfect or 'smutty' look on
a printed sheet, caused by an oily
or unclean roller.
Catting, verbal subs. (common).—1.
Vomiting.—See Cat, verb.
2. (venery).—Running after loose women; molrowing (q.v.) for synonyms.
1725. New Canting Dictionary. Catting: whoring.
Cattle, subs. (common).—A term
of contempt applied to human
beings. Cf., Queer cattle,
Kittle cattle. The generic
names of the lower creation are
pretty generally used in such
transferred senses; e.g., Queer
fish, Downy bird, Pigeon,
Rook, Sad dog, etc. In England
mostly employed disparagingly,
but in the U.S.A.
bug—here the name of one of
the most offensive of vermin, but
there the common term for all
varieties of beetles—is used in a
good sense; e.g., Big bug.
1579. Gosson, School of Abuse, p. 27 (Arber's ed.). We have infinite Poets, and Pipers, and suche peeuishe cattel among vs in Englande.
1600. Shakspeare, As You Like It, Act iii., Sc. 2, 435. Boyes and women are . . . cattle of this colour.
188(?) G. R. Sims, Dagonet Ballads ('Moll Jarvis'). Queer cattle is women to deal with? Lord bless ye, yer honour, they are!
[Cattle is often used of horses. See Harrison Ainsworth's Rookwood: Have you any horses? Our Cattle are all blown. Also Goldsmith's 'She Stoops to Conquer.']
Cattle-Bug, subs. (American).—See
Bug, subs., sense 4.
Caudge-Pawed, adj. (old).—Left-handed.—Grose.
Caught on the Fly, phr. (American).—'Caught
in the act.' An
equivalent of 'caught on the hop'
or 'hip.'—See Hop.
Cauliflower, subs. (old).—1. A
clerical wig supposed to resemble
