Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A little cat; a kitten.
  • noun Catgut; the string of a lute, violin, etc.
  • noun The down or moss which grows about certain trees and resembles the hair of a cat.
  • noun A double-edged knife used by surgeons for dismembering. Also catlin.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A little cat; a kitten.
  • noun rare Catgut; a catgut string.
  • noun (Surg.) A double-edged, sharp-pointed dismembering knife.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A little cat; a kitten.
  • noun catgut; a catgut string
  • noun surgery A double-edged, sharp-pointed dismembering knife.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a long double-edged knife used for amputations

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

cat +‎ -ling

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Examples

  • "Which is why I call you 'catling'-" Talia interrupted with a grin, "'since you're fully as curious as any cat."

    Arrow's Fall Lackey, Mercedes 1988

  • "Which is why I call you 'catling'-" Talia interrupted with a grin, "'since you're fully as curious as any cat."

    Arrow's Fall Lackey, Mercedes 1988

  • June 13, 2007 at 2:12 pm eeewwwwww a catling ewwwwwwwwww

    No, thank you. - Lolcats 'n' Funny Pictures of Cats - I Can Has Cheezburger? 2007

  • Svenson dropped his catling into the bag with an exasperated sigh.

    The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters Dahlquist, Gordon 2006

  • Svenson dropped his catling into the bag with an exasperated sigh.

    The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters Dahlquist, Gordon 2006

  • "Hello, catling," Talia called cheerfully, seeing Elspeth's ARROW'S FALL head snap up at the sound of her voice.

    Arrow's Fall Lackey, Mercedes 1988

  • I will leave that note with you, but because the catling may well decide to be a human being again once I've left.

    Arrow's Fall Lackey, Mercedes 1988

  • "Hello, catling," Talia called cheerfully, seeing Elspeth's ARROW'S FALL head snap up at the sound of her voice.

    Arrow's Fall Lackey, Mercedes 1988

  • You've sat through enough Council meetings, catling; you have a good idea what to do.

    Arrow's Fall Lackey, Mercedes 1988

  • "Bright Lady, catling, you're going to break all my ribs!"

    Arrow's Fall Lackey, Mercedes 1988

Comments

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  • Hm. I thought I added this a long time ago.

    "...she had already laid out a selection of saws, catlings, clamps, tourniquets, leather-covered chains, dressings, splints..."

    —Patrick O'Brian, The Hundred Days, 55

    Also catlin. A Sea of Words: "A long, striaght, narrow, double-edged knife used for performing amputations." (138)

    March 20, 2008

  • catlin

    December 2, 2010

  • This word was used in the "Master And Commander" movie when the doctor was getting ready to remove the bullet himself.

    July 5, 2012