cat's-paw

cat's-paw
/kats"paw'/, n.
1. a person used to serve the purposes of another; tool.
2. Naut.
a. a hitch made in the bight of a rope so that two eyes are formed to hold the hook of one block of a tackle.
b. a light breeze that ruffles the surface of the water over a comparatively small area.
c. the small area ruffled by such a breeze.
Also, catspaw.
[1650-60]

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Universalium. 2010.

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Synonyms:
, / (in serving another's purpose), ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • Cat's paw — may refer to:*Cat s paw the informal name of some species of Anigozanthus *Cat s Paw A family of small mussels of various sizes and colours living in freshwater rivers and some salt.The shell is shaped like a cats footprint. *Cat s paw (knot), a… …   Wikipedia

  • Cat's-paw — n. 1. (Naut.) (a) A light transitory air which ruffles the surface of the water during a calm, or the ripples made by such a puff of air. (b) A particular hitch or turn in the bight of a rope, into which a tackle may be hooked. [1913 Webster] 2 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • cat's-paw — cat s′ paw or cats′paw n. 1) a person who is exploited by another; tool 2) mer a light breeze that ruffles the surface of the water over a small area 3) naut. a hitch made in the bight of a rope to hold the hook of a tackle • Etymology: 1650–60;… …   From formal English to slang

  • cat's paw — cats|paw [ˈkætspo: US po:] n old fashioned someone who is used by someone else to achieve something bad …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • cat's-paw — [kats′pô΄] n. 1. a person used by another to do dangerous, distasteful, or unlawful work; dupe: from the tale of the monkey who used the cat s foot to rake the chestnuts out of the fire 2. a light breeze that ripples the surface of water 3. Naut …   English World dictionary

  • cat's paw — ► NOUN ▪ a person used by another to carry out an unpleasant task …   English terms dictionary

  • cat's-paw — noun (plural cat s paws) Date: circa 1769 1. a light air that ruffles the surface of the water in irregular patches during a calm 2. [from the fable of the monkey that used a cat s paw to draw chestnuts from the fire] one used by another as a… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • cat's paw — /ˈkæts pɔ / (say kats paw) noun 1. a person used by another to serve their purpose; a tool. 2. Nautical a kind of hitch in the bight of a rope, made to hook a tackle on. 3. Nautical a light breeze which ruffles the surface of the water over a… …  

  • cat's-paw — žemasis ožūnis statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Hemodorinių šeimos dekoratyvinis augalas (Anigozanthos humilis), paplitęs Australijoje. atitikmenys: lot. Anigozanthos humilis angl. cat s paw šaltinis Valstybinės lietuvių kalbos komisijos… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • Cat's paw (knot) — Knot details name=Cat s paw names= type= hitch strength= origin= Ancient related= girth hitch, lark s foot, cow hitch releasing= Non jamming uses= Attaching a rope to a hook or ring caveat= abok number= #1891The Cat s paw is a knot used for… …   Wikipedia

  • Cat's paw (nail puller) — A cat s paw is a standard carpenter s tool, consisting of a round or hexagonal bar that curves at one end to form a pointed, cup shaped tip with a V shaped cleft for gripping nailheads. To use the tool the user holds the tool s shank with one… …   Wikipedia

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