cat-stairsn.

1825 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Suppl. Cat's-stairs, a plaything for children made of thread, small cord, or tape, which is so disposed by the hands as to fall down like steps of a stair, Dumfr., Gall.

1828 W. Carr Dial. Craven (ed. 2) Cat-stairs, Tape, &c. so twisted, that by its alternate hollows and projections, it resembles stairs.

1886 Leslie's Pop. Monthly 21 150/1 'Twere vain to tell what sylvan treasures accumulated in our back yard that summer. The flights of catstairs [etc.].