Part 1700

<h1>Catbird</h1> <Xpage=225>

<hw>Cat"bird</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>An American bird (<spn>Galeoscoptes Carolinensis</spn>), allied to the mocking bird, and like it capable of imitating the notes of other birds, but less perfectly. Its note resembles at times the mewing of a cat.</def>

<h1>Catboat</h1> <Xpage=225>

<hw>Cat"boat`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Naut.)</fld> <def>A small sailboat, with a single mast placed as far forward as possible, carring a sail extended by a graff and long boom. See <i>Illustration</i> in Appendix.</def>

<h1>Catcall</h1> <Xpage=225>

<hw>Cat"call`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>A sound like the cry of a cat, such as is made in playhouses to express dissatisfaction with a play; also, a small shrill instrument for making such a noise.</def>

<blockquote>Upon the rising of the curtain. I was very much surprised with the great consort of <b>catcalls</b> which was exhibited. <i>Addison.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Catch</h1> <Xpage=225>

<hw>Catch</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Caught</er> <tt>(?)</tt> &or; <er>Catched</er> <tt>(<?/)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Catching</er>. <i>Catched</i> is rarely used.]</wordforms> <ety>[OE. <ets>cacchen</ets>, OF. <ets>cachier</ets>, dialectic form of <ets>chacier</ets> to hunt, F. <ets>chasser</ets>, fr. (assumend) LL. <ets>captiare</ets>, for L. <ets>capture</ets>, V. intens. of <ets>capere</ets> to take, catch. See <er>Capacious</er>, and cf. <er>Chase</er>, <er>Case</er> a box.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>To lay hold on; to seize, especially with the hand; to grasp (anything) in motion, with the effect of holding; <as>as, to <ex>catch</ex> a ball</as>.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To seize after pursuing; to arrest; <as>as, to <ex>catch</ex> a thief</as>.</def> "They pursued . . . and <i>caught</i> him."

<i>Judg. i. 6.</i>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To take captive, as in a snare or net, or on a hook; <as>as, to <ex>catch</ex> a bird or fish</as>.</def>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>Hence: To insnare; to entangle. "To <i>catch</i> him in his words".</def>

<i>Mark xii. 13.</i>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>To seize with the senses or the mind; to apprehend; <as>as, to <ex>catch</ex> a melody.</def> "Fiery thoughts</as> . . . whereof I <i>catch</i> the issue."

<i>Tennyson.</i>

<p><b>6.</b> <def>To communicate to; to fasten upon; <as>as, the fire <ex>caught</ex> the adjoining building</as>.</def>

<p><b>7.</b> <def>To engage and attach; to please; to charm.</def>

<blockquote>The soothing arts that <b>catch</b> the fair. <i>Dryden.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>8.</b> <def>To get possession of; to attain.</def>

<blockquote>Torment myself to <b>catch</b> the English throne. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>9.</b> <def>To take or receive; esp. to take by sympathy, contagion, infection, or exposure; <as>as, to <ex>catch</ex> the spirit of an occasion; to <ex>catch</ex> the measles or smallpox; to <ex>catch</ex> cold; the house <ex>caught</ex> fire.</as></def>

<p><b>10.</b> <def>To come upon unexpectedly or by surprise; to find; <as>as, to <ex>catch</ex> one in the act of stealing</as>.</def>

<p><b>11.</b> <def>To reach in time; to come up with; <as>as, to <ex>catch</ex> a train</as>.</def>

<cs><col>To catch fire</col>, <cd>to become inflamed or ignited.</cd> -- <col>to catch it</col> <cd>to get a scolding or beating; to suffer punishment.</cd> <mark>[Colloq.]</mark> -- <col>To catch one's eye</col>, <cd>to interrupt captiously while speaking.</cd> <mark>[Colloq.]</mark> "You <i>catch me up<i> so very short." <i>Dickens</i>. -- <col>To catch up</col>, <cd>to snatch; to take up suddenly.</cd></cs>

<h1>Catch</h1> <Xpage=225>

<hw>Catch</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To attain possession.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>