catgut
/ˈkatɡʌt
/noun [mass noun]
A material used for the strings of some musical instruments, made of the dried twisted intestines of sheep or horses (but not cats).Earlier, patients had to buy all the essential items required for surgical operations such as gloves, catgut (surgical sutures), and even cleaning material like liquid iodine....
- Women who consented to participate in the study were assigned randomly before labor to chromic catgut or fast-absorbing synthetic suture.
- Strings were made from catgut: animal lovers will be relieved to know that wire is used today.
Origin
Late 16th century: the association with cat1 remains unexplained.