catty
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catty¹
- /ˈkæti/
- [ˈkʰæɾi] US
Sounds like caddie (Flapping), caddy (Flapping) · Rhymes with -æti
Where it comes from
From cat + -y. Compare Dutch kattig, which also means “subtly hostile” and is formed the same way (kat + -ig); see also catfight.
adjective cattier · cattiest
- Resembling or characteristic of a cat. catty eyes
- With subtle hostility in an effort to hurt, annoy, or upset (particularly in interactions between women). The fact is, Mr Carrados, Gertrude is a misfire. It was the surprise of her life (if I said "disappointment" you'd think me catty) when Mark married me, and she didn't set out to be pleasant to the interloper.
catty²
Where it comes from
From Malay kati, from Tamil கட்டி (kaṭṭi).
noun catties · cattys · cattee · kati · katti · katty
- A (unit of) weight used in China which is metricated in Mainland China as exactly 0.5 kg, and approximately 0.6 kg for other places. 16 Mess, make a Tale, which here is 20 s. English, 5 Tale make a Bancal, a weight so called, and 20 Bancal make a Catty, another weight.
catty³
noun catties
- A catapult. “Give me your slingshot, and I'll let you have it back after school this afternoon,” she said firmly. […] I stuck the 'catty' into my back pocket and ran outside to meet the others.
Catty⁴
Rhymes with -æti
Where it comes from
Diminutive + -y.
proper noun
- The borough of Catasauqua in Pennsylvania.
Translations
Talk about this word "catty." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/catty. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. catty. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/catty "catty." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/catty.Cite this
@misc{catty_2026,
title = {catty},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/catty},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
