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cathead. -- Cat hook (Naut.), a strong hook attached to a cat block. -- Cat nap, a very short sleep. [Colloq.] -- Cat o' nine tails, an instrument of punishment consisting of nine pieces of knotted line or cord fastened to a handle; -- formerly used to flog offenders on the bare back. -- Cat's cradle, game played, e…

One of the short ropes or iron cramps used to brace in the shrouds toward the masts so a to give freer sweep to the yards.

tch one's eye, to interrupt captiously while speaking. [Colloq.] "You catch me up so very short." Dickens. -- To catch up, to snatch; to take up suddenly.

A short expressive title used for abbreviated book lists, etc.

s. The Jews, even till this day, have their catechisms. Hooker. The Larger Catechism, The Shorter Catechism. See Westminster Assembly, under Assembly.

A short caulis or stem, esp. the rudimentary stem seen in the embryo of seed; -- otherwise called a radicle.

A short piece of ornance or cannon, which stood on its breech, without any carriage, formerly used chiefly for rejoicings and theatrical cannonades. Air chamber. See Air chamber, in the Vocabulary. -- Chamber of commerce, a board or association to protect the interests of commerce, chosen from among the merchants and…

A short and simple melody, divided into two parts by double bars, to which unmetrical psalms, etc., are sung or recited. It is the most ancient form of choral music.

A short, pointed beard, like that worn by Charles I.

An ornamental hook, or brooch worn by a lady at her waist, and having a short chain or chains attached for a watch, keys, trinkets, etc. Also used adjectively; as, a chatelaine chain.

A short rein looped over the check hook to prevent a horse from lowering his head; -- called also a bearing rein.

To make a short, shrill, cheerful sound; to chirp. See Chirrup. "Cheruping birds." Drayton.

ry; chicanery; caviling; sophistry. Prior. To shuffle from them by chicane. Burke. To cut short this, I propound it fairly to your own canscience. Berkeley.

A short, sharp sound, as of metal struck with a slight degree of violence. "Chink of bell." Cowper.

Having a chin; -- used chiefly in compounds; as, short-chinned.

A short, sharp note, as of a bird or insect. "The chirp of flitting bird." Bryant.

A heavy casting of metal, usually fixed near the gunwale. It has two short horn-shaped arms curving inward, between which ropes or hawsers may pass for towing, mooring, etc.

In a shotgun, a bore which is tapered to a slightly smaller diameter at a short distance (usually 2½ to 3 inches) to the rear of the muzzle, in order to prevent the rapid dispersion of the shot.

Rough, with short, tumultuous waves; as, a choppy sea.

A foot consisting of four syllables, of which the first and last are long, and the other short (- ~ ~ -); that is, a choreus, or trochee, and an iambus united.