kittenn.
/ˈkɪtn/, U.S. /ˈkɪtn/ 1.
a. The young of the cat; a young cat (not full-grown).
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > family Felidae (feline) > felis domesticus (cat) > [noun] > kitten
kitten1377
kitlinga1530
kit1562
kittle1566
catlinga1649
kitty1707
titty1802
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. Prol. 190 Þere þe catte is a kitoun þe courte is ful elyng.
a1425 Edward, Duke of York Master of Game (Digby) ix Þei beer hir kitouns..as oþer cattes, saue þei haue not but two ketouns at ones.
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin xxxiii. 665 He caste his nett in to the water, and drough oute a litill kyton as blakke as eny cool.
1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 iii. i. 125 I had rather be a kitten and cry mew, Then one of these same miter ballet mongers.
1776 Whitehead Variety 9 The Kitten too was comical, She play'd so oddly with her tail.
1852 D. M. Mulock Agatha's Husband i Carrying not only the real black kitten, but the..allegorical ‘little black dog’ on her shoulder.
b. transferred. Applied to the young of some other animals.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > family unit > [noun] > offspring or young
kindle?c1225
kitlinga1300
child1340
chita1382
birda1398
younga1398
kitten1495
baby1659
piccaninny1824
kit1957
1495 Trevisa's Bartholomeus De Proprietatibus Rerum (de Worde) xviii. lxxiv. 829 The wesell..nouryssheth her kyttons [a1398 BL Add. 27944 chittes, a1450 Bodl. ketelinges] in howses and bereth them fro place to place.
1899 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Jan. 41/1 Each beaver-plew of full-grown animal or ‘kitten’ fetched six to eight dollars overhead.
1957 J. H. F. Stevenson Mink in Brit. (ed. 2) v. 18 Once the kittens, or kitts as they are called, are able to fend for themselves, they do so.
1964 R. M. Lockley Private Life Rabbit iv. 54 It was possible to handle and weigh week-old kittens without causing their desertion by the doe.
1972 R. Adams Watership Down xlii. 356 Clover's had her litter. All good, healthy kittens. Three bucks and three does.
c. figurative. Applied to a young girl, with implication of playfulness or skittishness. In extended use: a girl-friend; a young woman; often as a form of address.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > person > young person > young woman > [noun]
daughterOE
maidenOE
young womanOE
mayc1175
burdc1225
maidc1275
wenchc1290
file1303
virginc1330
girla1375
damselc1380
young ladya1393
jilla1425
juvenclec1430
young person1438
domicellea1464
quean1488
trull1525
pulleta1533
Tib1533
kittyc1560
dell1567
gillian1573
nymph1584
winklota1586
frotion1587
yuffrouw1589
pigeon1592
tit1599
nannicock1600
muggle1608
gixy1611
infanta1611
dilla1627
tittiea1628
whimsy1631
ladykin1632
stammel1639
moggie1648
zitellaa1660
baggagea1668
miss1668
baby1684
burdie1718
demoiselle1720
queanie?1800
intombi1809
muchacha1811
jilt1816
titter1819
ragazza1827
gouge1828
craft1829
meisie1838
sheila1839
sixteenc1840
chica1843
femme1846
muffin1854
gel1857
quail1859
kitten1870
bud1880
fräulein1883
sub-debutante1887
sweet-and-twenty1887
flapper1888
jelly1889
queen1894
chick1899
pusher1902
bit of fluff1903
chicklet1905
twist and twirl1905
twist1906
head1913
sub-deb1916
tabby1916
mouse1917
tittie1918
chickie1919
wren1920
bim1922
nifty1923
quiff1923
wimp1923
bride1924
job1927
junior miss1927
hag1932
tab1932
sort1933
palone1934
brush1941
knitting1943
teenybopper1966
weeny-bopper1972
Valley Girl1982
the world > people > person > young person > young woman > [noun] > as form of address
young lady1662
miss1668
baby1684
kitten1870
the mind > emotion > love > terms of endearment > [noun] > of or to a girl > of or to a girl or woman
pigsneyc1390
pussy?a1560
wench1581
ladykin1632
pop1785
popsy1855
old top1856
ma mie1859
kitten1870
tootsy1895
toots1936
mi'jita1970
noona1975
amiga1984
mi'ja1984
unni1997
the mind > attention and judgement > inattention > mental wandering > light-mindedness > [noun] > person > female
gig?c1225
gigleta1340
halok?1507
fizgiga1529
gilliea1529
flirt1562
peat1566
sluta1592
gillian flirt1593
giggle1611
filly1616
jill-flirt1627
flibbertigibbet1640
flirtigig1683
flip-flap1702
gamine1848
kitten1870
sillypop1894
frippet1908
the mind > emotion > love > a lover > [noun] > one who is loved or a sweetheart > specifically a female sweetheart or girlfriend
lief971
ladya1393
ladyshipa1393
speciala1400
amiec1400
womanc1400
amoreta1425
mistressc1425
paramoura1450
fair ladya1470
girl?a1513
sooterkin1530
Tib1533
she1547
lady-love1568
jug1569
young lady1584
pigeon1592
love-lass1594
lass1596
dowsabel1612
swainling1615
lucky1629
Dulcinea1638
Lindabrides1640
inamorata1651
baby1684
best girl1691
lady friend1733
young woman1822
moll1823
querida1834
sheila1839
bint1855
tart1864
babykins1870
Dona1874
novia1874
fancy-girl1892
girlfriend1892
cliner1895
tootsy1895
dinah1898
best1904
twist and twirl1905
jane1906
kitten1908
patootie1918
meisie1919
bride1924
gf1925
jelly1931
sort1933
a bit (also piece) of homework1945
beast1946
queen1955
momma1964
mi'jita1970
her indoors1979
girlf1991
1870 D. J. Kirwan Palace & Hovel xliii. 612 The ‘Kitten’ is a blonde, with black eyes, a pretty, babyish face,..a profusion of golden hair.
1894 H. Nisbet Bush Girl's Romance 74 After fishing all she could, artful, artless little kitten that she is.
1908 W. De Morgan Somehow Good xii. 119 ‘Kitten,’ said Sally's mother to her suddenly, ‘I think I shall go away to bed.’
1938 W. G. Hardy Turn back River iii. 28 ‘You'll have to go, kitten,’ Clodia whispered hurriedly... For an instant she held her sister close.
1961 ‘E. Lathen’ Banking on Death vii. 59 He..accepted a sherry from June with a somewhat absent, ‘Thanks, Kitten.’
1970 G. Greer Female Eunuch 266 There are the cute animal terms like..kitten and lamb [to signify a woman].
2. Short for kitten-moth n. at Compounds 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > Heterocera > [noun] > family Notodontidae > cerura furcula (sallow kitten)
kitten-moth1819
kitten1874
sallow kitten1880
1874 E. Newman Illustr. Nat. Hist. Brit. Moths 210 The Alder Kitten.
3. Slang phr. (originally U.S.), to have kittens: to lose one's composure; to get into a ‘flap’.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > excitement > nervous excitement > be in state of nervous excitement [verb (intransitive)]
to take ona1450
seethe1609
trepidate1623
to take on oneself1632
flutter1668
pother1715
to be upon the nettle (also in a nettle)1723
to be nerve all over1778
to be all nerve1819
to be (all) on wires1824
to break up1825
to carry on1828
to be on (occasionally upon or on the) edge1872
faff1874
to have kittens1900
flap1910
to be in, get in(to), a flap1939
to go sparec1942
to keep (also blow, lose) one's cool1964
faffle1965
to get one's knickers in a twist1971
to have a canary1971
to wet one's pants1979
tweak1981
1900 Dial. Notes 2 44 Kitten. In phrases ‘get kittens’, ‘have kittens’. 1. To get angry. 2. To be in great anxiety, or to be afraid.
1937 Times 15 Feb. 13/4 Mr. Partridge allows ‘jitters’..but not ‘having kittens’.
1940 K. M. Knight Rendezvous with Past xx. 141 If he knew what I know about you he'd have kittens.
1943 J. L. Hunt & A. G. Pringle Service Slang 38 Having kittens, perturbed. ‘The Colonel is having kittens’—the Colonel is upset and he is very, very angry.
1950 M. Kennedy Feast ii. ix. 42 She's been having kittens all day because Mrs. Siddal says she's got to empty slops.
1952 W. Plomer Museum Pieces xxv. 210 My doctor nearly had kittens when I suggested my being dropped to the maquis by parachute.
1959 ‘A. Gilbert’ Third Crime Lucky ii. 28 Gertrude was going to have kittens when she discovered that extravagance.
1967 N. Freeling Strike Out 76 When one of the horses has something wrong with it—then everybody has kittens.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
a.
kitten days n.
ΚΠ
1821 J. Clare Village Minstrel I. 166 The gamesome plays That mark'd her happy Kitten-days.
kitten face n.
ΚΠ
1813 Sketches of Character (ed. 2) I. 157 I see her kitten face looking about, trying to understand what's going forwards.
b.
kitten-like adj.
ΚΠ
1839 C. Dickens Nicholas Nickleby xxxiv. 322 Pouncing with kitten-like playfulness upon a stray sovereign.
C2.
kitten-hearted adj. faint-hearted, timorous.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > timidity > [adjective]
arghc885
unboldc897
bletheOE
feyOE
frightfula1325
fearedc1330
fearfulc1374
ferdfula1382
palea1393
ferdya1400
ghastful1422
tremblingc1430
timorousc1450
cremeuse1477
craintive1490
cocklea1500
sheepish?1518
awfula1522
meticulousc1540
timidc1550
sheepa1556
tremebundc1560
timorsomec1600
tremulous1611
pigeon-hearteda1625
affrightful1631
formidolous1656
pavid1656
timidous1658
unsupported1694
tender-nosed1700
scary1773
pippin-hearted1809
kitten-hearted1831
funky1835
misventurous1849
milksoppish1852
tender-footed1854
fearsome1863
scare1885
milksoppy1886
milksopping1888
cotton wool1909
1831 T. Attwood 19 Sept. in Life (1885) xi. 171 The tame kitten-hearted slaves.
kitten-moth n. a collector's name for the bombycid moth Cerura furcula; also for the species of Dicranura, as D. bifida.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > Heterocera > [noun] > family Notodontidae > cerura furcula (sallow kitten)
kitten-moth1819
kitten1874
sallow kitten1880
1819 G. Samouelle Entomologist's Compend. 248 Cerura Vinula (puss moth), Cerura Furcula (kitten moth).
poplar-kitten n. D. bicuspis
alder-kitten n.
ΚΠ
1874 E. Newman Illustr. Nat. Hist. Brit. Moths 210 The Alder Kitten.
Derivatives
ˈkittendom n.
ΚΠ
1886 W. Besant Children of Gibeon III. ii. xxii. 57 A man whom they [sc. the cats] had known and respected since kittendom.
ˈkittenhood n. the state or condition of being a kitten.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > family Felidae (feline) > felis domesticus (cat) > [noun] > kitten > state of being
kittenhood1799
1799 R. Southey Nondescripts i, in Poet. Wks. (1838) III. 58 Thou art beautiful as ever Cat That wantoned in the joy of kittenhood.
Draft additions June 2003
kitten heel n. a relatively low, pointed heel on a shoe; a shoe, etc., with this type of heel.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > footwear > shoe or boot > shoe > [noun] > types of > with specific heels
kitten heel1959
1959 Tri-City Herald (Pasco, Washington) 1 Mar. 15/2 (advt.) The lower ‘kitten’ heel for a truly dressy active living walker.
1995 Guardian 19 July (Weekend Suppl.) t8/1 A low-slung kitten heel a mere two inches off the ground is the latest thing.
1997 Sunday Mirror (Electronic ed.) 23 Feb. Gucci has brought new life to this favourite fashion classic by teaming brightly-coloured skirts with kitten-heel ankle boots.
2002 D. Aitkenhead Promised Land xx. 194 There must have been about 200 people, gays, straights, black and white, in kitten heels and army boots, miniskirts and combat trousers.
Draft additions June 2003
kitten-heeled adj. (of a shoe, etc.) having a kitten heel; (of a person) wearing shoes, etc., with kitten heels.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > footwear > shoe or boot > [adjective]
low-top1892
kitten-heeled1991
1991 Best 6 June 8 Wear these striking, cropped trousers with strappy kitten-heeled shoes to show off your legs to best effect.
1998 Independent on Sunday 8 Mar. 9 I've got a pair of Miu-Miu kitten-heeled mules waiting for them.
2003 Guardian (Nexis) 22 Feb. 8 The kitten-heeled moderniser who warned last year's Conservative conference they were viewed as ‘the nasty party’ was on a hit-list.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1901; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
kittenv.
/ˈkɪtn/, U.S. /ˈkɪtn/ Of a cat: To bring forth kittens; also of some other animals: To bring forth young, to litter. (intransitive and transitive).
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > animal body > general parts > sexual organs and reproduction > [verb (intransitive)] > bring forth young
belittera1325
whelp1398
fawn1481
litter1484
kitten1495
kittle1530
yean1548
dam1577
farrow1580
cub1755
the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > family Felidae (feline) > felis domesticus (cat) > [verb (intransitive)] > give birth
kitten1495
kittle1530
the world > animals > animal body > general parts > sexual organs and reproduction > [verb (transitive)] > give birth to
bearOE
whelpc1175
kindle?c1225
hatcha1350
yeana1387
calvea1425
producea1513
dam1577
cast1587
rewhelp1605
render1607
store1611
drop1662
warp1738
kit1758
kitten1824
throw1824
cub1864
the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > family Felidae (feline) > felis domesticus (cat) > [verb (transitive)] > miscellaneous actions of
purr1740
kit1758
kitten1824
knead1954
1495 Trevisa's Bartholomeus De Proprietatibus Rerum (de Worde) xviii. lxxiv. sig. eevj/1 Theyr opynyon is false..that wesels conceyue atte mouth and kytneth [MS. Bodl. whelhiþ] att the eere.
1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 iii. i. 18 If your mothers cat had but kittend . View more context for this quotation
1824 M. R. Mitford Our Village I. 175 The roof fairly fell in during the deep snow of last winter, killing..two as fine litters of rabbits as ever were kittened.
1859 E. C. Gaskell Round the Sofa 335 My cat has kittened, too.
Derivatives
ˈkittening n.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1901; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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v.1495