pussycatn.adj.
/ˈpʊsɪkat/, U.S. /ˈpʊsiˌkæt/ colloquial.
A. n.† 4. Cattiness, spitefulness. Obsolete. rare.
1. colloquial (originally nursery). A cat.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > family Felidae (feline) > felis domesticus (cat) > [noun]
cata800
bad?a1325
gibc1400
baudrons?a1500
house cat?1527
puss-cata1529
puss1533
puss1598
mewer1611
mewler1611
Tibert1616
malkina1627
grimalkin1630
meower1632
miauler1632
pussycat1698
pussy1699
tigerkin1849
moggie1911
pussums1912
mog1926
1698 T. Dilke Pretenders ii. 17 Tye a Collar about my neck and lead me thither in the shape of Towzer, if dow tinkst fit, my Minky. Nay, I'll be dy Pussy-cat, dy Puppy-dog, dy any ting, my little pitty Minky.
1773 Sailor's Descr. House of Commons 11 Feb. in Nauticks (1783) II. 31 When pussy-cat sleep [sic], the little mice play.
1797 Columbian Almanac 27 At last I had the fortitude to put out my head: when, to my eternal confusion, mortification, and disgrace, I saw—Poor Pussey Cat.
1805 Songs for Nursery 40 Pussy cat, pussy cat, where have you been I've been to London to see the queen.
1844 ‘J. Slick’ High Life N.Y. I. 154 As affectionate as a pussy cat.
1870 E. Lear Nonsense Songs, Stories, Bot. & Alphabets (1871) sig. 2a The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea In a beautiful pea-green boat.
1894 M. M. Dodge When Life is Young 196 The seven little pussy-cats went out that night to tea, Their heads were smooth and glossy, their tails were swinging free.
1933 E. A. Robertson Ordinary Families x. 215 ‘Pore ole pussycat!’ Dru would lapse into baby-talk.
1955 Sci. News Let. 26 Mar. 203/1 For better-fed pussycats, add to their diet a good dash of personal attention and a heaping tablespoonful of affection.
1991 A. Blair More Tea at Miss Cranston's xiii. 150 You got to taste the shortbread or blackbun and the ginger wine... Crabbe's... no' very nice really, but you sat there mim as a pussy cat and sipped it.
2. A person (frequently a girl or woman) who exhibits characteristics associated with a cat, as slyness, playfulness, attractiveness, etc. Now esp.: a gentle, amiable, or submissive person.Also used as a pet or proper name and as a term of endearment.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > obedience > submissiveness > [noun] > submissive person
passive1532
pussycat1823
1823 ‘J. Bee’ Slang 22 Cat, pussey, a pert coxcomical little lass, with a round face, and nose curled up.
1853 C. M. Yonge Heir of Redclyffe I. i. 5 Charlotte laughed too, an imprudent proceeding, as it attracted attention. Her father smiled, saying, half-reprovingly,—‘So you are there, inquisitive pussy-cat?’
1856 C. M. Yonge Daisy Chain i. xiii. 127 The little affected pussy-cat made a set at him, bridled and talked in her mincing voice, with all her airs, and made him take a great deal of notice of her.
1859 J. A. Symonds Let. Apr. (1967) I. 184 Dalrymple's brother is going to be married to the Lady Edith Dalhousie: I wrote a solemn letter of congratulae [sic] to the old pussey cat!
1864 Realm 6 Apr. 1 What a purblind old pussy-cat, instead of the light and agile kitten we imagined was tripping before us!
1882 E. J. Worboise Sissie ix. 91 ‘What a wild pussy-cat she is!’ said her father, looking fondly at her, as she dashed abruptly from his side.
1909 W. S. Churchill Let. 18 Oct. in W. S. Churchill & C. S. Churchill Speaking for Themselves (1999) ii. 33 I feel a vivid realisation of all you are to me... Then too I think of this beautiful pussy cat that purrs and prinks itself before me, & I feel as proud & conceited as those peacocks to possess it.
1955 Amer. Speech 30 119 Pussy cat, a pilot who is overcautious, fearful, or reluctant.
1959 Times 17 Aug. 12/7 Ronder, a sly pussy-cat of a man, able to scratch as well as purr.
1973 E. Jong Fear of Flying 89 ‘Some men claim to be afraid of me.’ Adrian laughed. ‘You're a sweetheart,’ he said, ‘a pussy-cat—as you Americans say.’
1976 C. Dexter Last seen Wearing v. 36 The secret sex-life of a glamorous Hollywood pussycat.
1990 Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, Illinois) 30 Nov. i. 2/2 What if: Saddam Hussein is actually a pussycat?
2002 Smash Hits 20 Mar. 31/4 Mazzer may look scary, but people in the know assure us he's really a pussycat.
3. A willow or hazel catkin. Cf. pussy n. 5a. Now English regional.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > part of plant > reproductive part(s) > flower or part containing reproductive organs > inflorescence or collective flower > [noun] > of particular type, shape, or arrangement > catkin(s) or unisexual in florescence
chatc1400
tappette1561
catkin1578
chaton1578
kitekin1578
taglet1578
tag1597
cat's tail1611
nucament1633
tassel1646
catling1665
iulus1668
amentum1720
jul1725
ament1783
pussycat1850
lamb's tails1882
1850 C. M. Yonge Henrietta's Wish xv. 216 The silver ‘pussycats’ on the withy.
1861 S. Thomson Wanderings among Wild Flowers (rev. ed.) iii. 169 Every boy knows the ‘pussy-cats’ of the willow.
1889 E. Peacock Gloss. Words Manley & Corringham, Lincs. (ed. 2) 421 Pussy-cat.., the catkins of the willow.
1903 A. Bubb in Eng. Dial. Dict. IV. 654/1 [Gloucestershire] Pussy-cat [sc. a catkin].
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > unkindness > spite, malice > [noun] > quality
maliciousness1447
peevishness1468
spitefulness1530
sinisterness1611
viciousness1879
cattishness1894
pussycat1911
cattiness1920
bitchiness1934
1911 W. J. Locke Glory of Clementina Wing xxiv. 361 Let us have a straight talk like sensible women, and put the pussy-cat aside.
B. adj.
Resembling or suggestive of a cat; (in later use) esp. gentle, amiable, submissive Cf. sense A. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > family Felidae (feline) > felis domesticus (cat) > [adjective] > resembling a cat
cattish1598
pussy1842
feline1843
pussycat1867
feliform-
1867 J. W. De Forest Miss Ravenel's Conversion ix. 124 Miss Ravenel spit in her angry pussy-cat fashion when her father read to her this passage of the letter.
1923 W. H. Hudson Hind in Richmond Park xiv. 203 The animals of any species all sneeze in the same way;..but we have infinite variety, from the little pussy-cat puff of sound emitted by some women to the awful outbursts of noise in some men.
1949 S. Lewis God-seeker xxxiv. 231 This day I made three Resolutions... To not be irritated by the Speezers' pussycat smiles and their hints that I am a mere country bumpkin.
1977 Washington Post (Nexis) 10 Sept. a5 The Senate maintained its pussycat attitude on presidential appointments. Some sub-Cabinet names were withdrawn..when it became clear they could not win approval.
1991 N.Y. Times 4 Dec. a1/4 I assure you that in pit bull mode or pussy cat mode (your choice, as always), I am ready to help.
2005 Western Mail (Cardiff) (Nexis) 4 Apr. 34 Media bosses..tend to be seen as pushovers and fall into the pussycat category.
Compounds
pussycat bow n. a large floppy bow, usually worn at the neck.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > parts of clothing > [noun] > trimmings or ornamentation > bow
butterfly bow1830
pussycat bow1902
pussy-bow1946
1902 Lady's Realm Dec. 287 Really there is something extremely fascinating in a ‘pussycat bow’; it is so feminine, frivolous, and charming.
1932 Winnipeg Free Press 23 Mar. 12/4 (advt.) Easter Scarves. Linker, Lyolene, Sore Throat, or Pussy Cat Bow types, in daring dashing shades lend that riotous air Spring suggests.
1967 S. Pakenham Sixty Miles from England xv. 204 Lady Blanche, in her white mantilla and pussy-cat bow of gentian silk.
1977 J. Bingham Marriage Bureau Murders ii. 21 Her white silk blouse, with the pussy cat bow tied at the neck, lent a touch of femininity.
2000 Marie Claire (Johannesburg) Oct. 132 (caption) Pink crinkle vest..blue suedette pants..Pink pussycat-bow blouse.
Derivatives
ˈpussycat-like adj.
ΚΠ
1873 St. James' Mag. 11 699 The cat-bird's pussy-cat-like note is often heard at daybreak.
1881 J. E. H. Thomson Upland Tarn 26 Her noiseless pussy-cat-like ways.
a1934 J. Hawthorne Memoirs (1938) ii. 65 The dew was on the grass; but Abbie picked up her skirts, and with the pussycat-like dexterity of women, escaped the stains of travel.
1995 Syracuse (N.Y.) Herald Jrnl. 11 Sept. a12 The pussycat-like traits of the cheetah.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2007; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.adj.1698