Chapter Cataian to Catharine Wheels of C by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Catch-Club A member of the Catchclub. A bum-bailiff, a tipstaff, a constable. The pun is obvious.

Catchpenny A worthless article puffed off to catch the pennies of those who are foolish enough to buy them.

Catchpole A constable; a law officer whose business it was to apprehend criminals. Pole or poll means head, person; and the word means one who catches persons by the poll or neck. This was done by means of an instrument something like a shepherd's crook.

“Cacchepoles, from catch and pole, because these officers lay hold of a man's neck.” - Wiclif: New Testament (Acts xvi., Glossary).

Catch Weights in racing, means without restrictions as to weight.

Catch-word A popular cry, a word or a phrase adopted by any party for political or other purposes. “Three acres and a cow,” “A living wage,” are examples.

Catch-word The first word on any page of a book or manuscript which is printed or written at the foot of the preceding page. In the early days of printing the catch-word was generally used, but for the last two hundred years the practice has been gradually dying out. Its purpose was, among other things, to enable the reader to avoid an awkward pause when turning over a leaf. The first book so printed was a Tacitus, by John de Spira, 1469.

Catch-word In theatrical parlance, is the last word or so of the previous speaker, which is the cue of the person who follows.

Catechumen [kat'y-kumen]. One taught by word of mouth (Greek, katechoumenos). Those about to be baptised in the early Church were first taught by word of mouth, and then catechised on their religious faith and duties.

Cater-cousin An intimate friend; a remote kinsman. (French, quatrecousin, a fourth cousin).

“His master and he, saving your worship's
reverence, are scarce cater-cousins.” - Shake-
speare Merchant of Venice, ii. 2.

Caterpillars Soldiers. In 1745 a soldier, quartered at Derby, was desired by the landlord to call on him whenever he passed that way, for added Boniface, “I consider soldiers the pillars of the state.” When the rebellion was put down, it so happened that the same regiment was quartered in Derby, and the soldier called on his old host, but was very coldly and somewhat uncivilly received. The soldier reminded Boniface of what he said at parting - “I consider soldiers the pillars of the state.” “Did I say so?” said mine host, “Well, I meant cater-pillars.”

Caterwauling The wawl or wrawl of cats, the er being either a plural, similar to “childer” (children), or a corrupted genitive.

“What a caterwauling do you keep here!” -
Shakespeare: Twelfth Night, ii. 3.

Catgut A contracted form of cattlegut, especially sheep. Another form is catling-gut, i.e. cattle-ing gut. In Gen. xxx. 40 we read that Jacob did separate “his own flocks by themselves, and put them not unto Laban's cattle [i.e. sheep].” Again, in xxxi. 9, Jacob said, “God hath taken away the cattle [sheep and lambs] of your father, and given them to me;” and verse 43 he says, “These cattle [sheep and lambs] are my cattle.”
    Musical strings never were made from the gut of a cat.

Catgut Scraper (A). A fiddler.

Cathari Novatian heretics. The Waldenses were subsequently so called. (Ducange vol. ii. p. 288, col. 2.)