Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CAT, n.4
1. "A tackle formed of a large number of hooks and having a heavy weight attached — used in hand-line fishing" (Ags.9 1926).
†2. "A small bit of rag, rolled up and put between the handle of a pot and the hook which suspends it over the fire, to raise it a little" (Rxb. 1825 Jam.2; 1923 Watson W.-B., obs.).
[For sense 1, cf. cat, n. 2, in Un. Eng. Dict., tackle for hoisting anchor to cathead; and for sense 2, cf. cat-fall in N.E.D. s.v. cat, n., 18: "in the cat-tackle, the rope between the cat-block and the sheaves in the cat-head," both naut. terms.]
