hepcatn.
/ˈhɛpkat/, U.S. /ˈhɛpˌkæt/ slang (originally U.S.). Now somewhat dated, and chiefly humorous.
A person, typically a man, who is hep (hep adj.); an enthusiast of or expert in jazz, swing music, etc.; (more generally) a person considered cool, sophisticated, or stylish. Cf. hepster n., hipcat n.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > music appreciation > music lover > [noun] > of jazz
jazzbo1917
jazzer1917
jazzophile1926
cat1932
alligator1936
hepcat1937
hipcat1937
jitterbug1937
hepster1938
hipster1938
hippie1948
1937 Tempo July 5/1 The hep-cats are right guys and the ickies are bring-downs.
a1940 F. S. Fitzgerald Last Tycoon (1941) v. 107 Suddenly they were at work again—taking up this new theme in turn like hepcats in a swing band and going to town with it.
1955 Sci. News Let. 1 Oct. 221/2 This is not cool chatter between some young hep-cats in a smoke-filled jazz joint.
1991 Business Week 12 Aug. 32/3 Hepcats who sport an inner-tube belt don't even have to skimp on their sesame tofu and organically grown mustard greens.
2005 Time Out N.Y. 13 Jan. 68/3 Darshan Jesrani and his guests pump out a set of boogie-tech beats for the hepcats.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2018; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1937