Part 117

Cat"fall` (?), n. (Naut.) A rope used in hoisting the anchor to the cathead. Totten.

Cat"fish` (?), n. (Zo÷l.) A name given in the United States to various species of siluroid fishes; as, the yellow cat (Amiurus natalis); the bind cat (Gronias nigrilabrus); the mud cat (Pilodictic oilwaris), the stone cat (Noturus flavus); the sea cat (Arius felis), etc. This name is also sometimes applied to the wolf fish. See Bullhrad.

Cat"gut` (?), n. [Cat + gut.] 1. A cord of great toughness made from the intestines of animals, esp. of sheep, used for strings of musical instruments, etc.

2. A sort of linen or canvas, with wide interstices.

Cath"a*rine wheel` (?). See catherine wheel.

Cath"a*rist (?), n. [LL. catharista, fr. Gr. &?; clean, pure.] One aiming at or pretending to a greater purity of like than others about him; -- applied to persons of various sects. See Albigenses.

Cat"-harp`in (?), n. See Cat-harping.

Cat"-harp`ing n. (Naut.) 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.

||Ca*thar"sis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;. See Cathartic.] (Med.) A natural or artificial purgation of any passage, as of the mouth, bowels, etc.

{ Ca*thar"tic (?), Ca*thar"ic*al (?), } a. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to cleanse, fr. &?; pure; akin to F. chaste.] 1. (Med.) Cleansing the bowels; promoting evacuations by stool; purgative.

2. Of or pertaining to the purgative principle of senna, as cathartic acid.

Ca*thar"tic, n. [Gr. &?;.] (Med.) A medicine that promotes alvine discharges; a purge; a purgative of moderate activity.

&fist; The cathartics are more energetic and certain in action that the laxatives, which simply increase the tendency to alvine evacuation; and less powerful and irritaint that the drastic purges, which cause profuse, repeated, and watery evacuations.

-- Ca*thar"tic*al*ly, adv. -- Ca*thar"tic*al*ness, n.

ca*thar"tin (?), n. (Chem.) The bitter, purgative principle of senna. It is a glucoside with the properties of a weak acid; -- called also cathartic acid, and cathartina.

Ca*thay" (?), n. China; -- an old name for the Celestial Empire, said have been introduced by Marco Polo and to be a corruption of the Tartar name for North China (Khitai, the country of the Khitans.)

Better fifty years of Europe than a cycle of Cathay. Tennyson.

Cat"head` (?), n. (Naut.) A projecting piece of timber or iron near the bow of vessel, to which the anchor is hoisted and secured.

||Cath"e*dra (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?; seat. See Chair.] The official chair or throne of a bishop, or of any person in high authority.

Ex cathedra [L., from the chair], in the exercise of one's office; with authority.

The Vatican Council declares that the Pope, is infallible "when he speaks ex cathedra." Addis & Arnold's Cath. Dict.

Ca*the"dral (?), n. [LL. cathedralis (sc. ecclesia): cf. F. cathÚdrale. See Cathedra.] The principal church in a diocese, so called because in it the bishop has his official chair (Cathedra) or throne.

Ca*the"dral, a. [LL. cathedralis: cf. F. cathÚdral.]

1. Pertaining to the head church of a diocese; as, a cathedral church; cathedral service.

2. Emanating from the chair of office, as of a pope or bishop; official; authoritative.

Now, what solemnity can be more required for the pope to make a cathedral determination of an article! Jer. Taylor.

3. Resembling the aisles of a cathedral; as, cathedral walks. Pope.

Cath`e*dral"ic (?), a. Cathedral. [R.]