CONCERNING CATS. i8i 



their strength, by laying a wager with them that they may 

 be pulled through a pond by a cat. The bet being made, 

 a rope is fixed round the waist of the party to be catted, 

 and the end thrown across the pond, to which the cat is 

 also fastened by a pack-thread, and three or four sturdy 

 fellows are appointed to lead and 'whip the cat.' These, 

 on a signal being given, seize the end of the cord, and, pre- 

 tending to whip the cat, haul the astonished booby through 

 the water." — Grose, 1785. 



The following are culled from the well-known and useful 

 book, Jamieson's " Scottish Dictionary " : 



Cat. — 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. — Roxb. 



Cat. — A handful of straw, with or without corn upon it, 

 or of reaped grain, laid on the ground by the reaper without 

 being put into a sheaf {Roxb.^ Dumfr.). Perhaps from the 

 Belg. word katt-en, to throw, the handful of corn being 

 cast on the ground ; whence kat, a small anchor. 



Cat. — The name given to a bit of wood, a horn, or any- 

 thing which is struck in place of a ball in certain games. 



To Cat a Chimney. — To enclose a vent by the process 

 called Cat and Clay {Teviotd.). 



Cat and Clay. — The materials of which a mud wall is 

 constructed in many parts of S. Straw and clay are well 

 wrought together, and being formed into pretty large rolls, 

 are laid between the different wooden posts by means of 

 which the wall is formed, and carefully pressed down so as 

 to incorporate with each other, or with the twigs that are 

 sometimes plaited from one post to another (,S.). 



Cat and Dog. — The name of an ancient sport (6'.). It 

 seems to be an early form of Cricket, (Query, is this the 

 same as Cat and Trap ?) 



Catband. — i. The name given to the strong hook used 

 on the inside of a door or gate, which, being fixed to the 



