cat's-paw

cat's-paw

cat's-paw

also cats·paw (kăts′pô′)

n. pl. cat's-paws also cats·paws

1. A person used by another as a dupe or tool.

2. A light breeze that ruffles small areas of a water surface.

3. Nautical A knot made by twisting a section of rope to form two adjacent eyes through which a hook is passed, used in hoisting.

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[From a fable about a monkey that used a cat's paw to pull chestnuts out of a fire.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

cat's-paw

n

1. a person used by another as a tool; dupe

2. (Knots) nautical a hitch in the form of two loops, or eyes, in the bight of a line, used for attaching it to a hook

3. (Physical Geography) a pattern of ripples on the surface of water caused by a light wind

[(sense 1) C18: so called from the tale of the monkey who used a cat's paw to draw chestnuts out of a fire]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

cat's′-paw`

or cats′paw`,

n.

1. a person who is exploited by another; tool.

2. a light breeze that ruffles the surface of the water over a small area.

3. a hitch made in the bight of a rope to hold the hook of a tackle.

[1650–60; definition 1 so called in allusion to the story of the monkey that used a cat's paw to pull chestnuts from the fire]

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	cat's-paw - a person used by another to gain an end pawn, instrument assistant, helper, help, supporter - a person who contributes to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose; "my invaluable assistant"; "they hired additional help to finish the work"
	2.	cat's-paw - a hitch in the middle of rope that has two eyes into which tackle can be hooked hitch - a knot that can be undone by pulling against the strain that holds it; a temporary knot

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

cat's-paw

also catspaw
noun

A person used or controlled by others:

dupe, instrument, pawn, puppet, stooge, tool.

The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Translations

cat's-paw

[ˈkætspɔː] N (fig) → instrumento m

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

cat’s-paw

n → Handlanger m

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007