noun
Meaning 1
cat meat
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: euphemistic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Phrase guide
roof rabbit
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.
History
Etymology
From roof + rabbit. From the common habit of cats to prowl on rooftops, and the meat being sold or passed off as rabbit. Similar formations exist in several European languages. Perhaps the earliest attestation (and eventual origin?) is Middle Low German bönhase (“cat”, literally “loft hare”), which is attested in the early 14th century (as a name and thus probably even older). More at German Bönhase and Dachhase.
Across languages
Translations
4 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Dutch: dakhaas — (euphemistic) cat meat — see also cat meat
- French: lapin de gouttière — (euphemistic) cat meat — see also cat meat
- German: Dachhase — (euphemistic) cat meat — see also cat meat
- Italian: coniglio di grondaia — (euphemistic) cat meat — see also cat meat