ETYMOLOGY. 



ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD "CAT." 



According to Murray's ' New English Dictionary,' 

 the word Cat is of unknown origin, but exists in 

 various languages as far back as their records go. 

 It is found in old western Germanic as early as 

 400-450 A.D. In old high German it is Chazza, 

 Chatero ; in middle German Kattaro. 



Murray says that no form of the word is preserved 

 in Gothic ; it is not, therefore, certain that it can be 

 traced back to the old Teutonic period. 



Champfleury considers it of Celto-Germanic 

 origin. 



In Gaelic it is Cat, Cat jiad-haich (Wild Cat). 

 In Welsh and Cornish Caih. In old French Cat, 

 Chater. 



In Latin the word is not found earlier than the 

 first century of our era, if Martial's epigram (Cattae, 

 lib. xiii. 69), 



" Pannonicas nobis nunquam dedit Umbria cattas : 

 Mavult hsec domino mittere dona Pudens," 



applies to this animal. 



Palladius, who wrote his work on Agriculture 

 circa 350 a.d., mentions an animal called Catus or 

 Cattus as useful in granaries for the destruction of 

 mice. This must surely apply to the domestic race, 

 and it is probable that the word Cat as used in the 

 old languages refers to the Domestic Cat. 



The term kcittoc, KaTra, in Byzantine Greek was 

 employed to designate the domesticated Cat brought 

 from Egypt. 



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