catchline

/kach"luyn'/, n.

1. a word, phrase, or sentence used, esp. in advertising or journalism, to arouse or call attention.

2. a line in which a catchword appears.

3. a line of lesser importance, set shorter or sometimes in smaller type than the lines above and beneath it.

4. Theat. a line of comic dialogue expected to elicit laughter.

5. slug¹ (def. 10a).

[1865-70; CATCH + LINE¹]

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