Dictionary

caticide en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈkæ.tɪ.saɪd/ (UK)

Etymology

From cat + -i- + -cide.

Meanings

1. (countable, nonce-word, uncountable) The killing of a cat.
   • About the same time Henry the Fowler, the German king, imposed a heavy fine for 'caticide'. 1964, Armand Denis, Cats of the World, London: Constable & Co., page 101:
   • Or a month later, when, while coming back from an upsetting pet-loss support group meeting, I committed accidental automotive catticide. 2006, Melissa Lee Shaw, “Foster”, in Asimov's Science Fiction, volume 30, number 10 & 11, →ISSN, page 175:
   • That every body who drinks the London water does eventually die is such a startling fact that we wonder that every family does not immediately plug up its cistern, cut off the connection with the company's main, and give the turncock into custody, as an accessory before the fact, in a long list of homicides, femicides, girlicides, boyicides, doggicides, caticides and horseicides. 1838 June 9, “The Thames Water Again”, in Figaro in London, volume 6, number 339, page 86:
   • Issuing strong injunctions against all caticide, we kept the playful and very tame animal with us until it was time to move;[…] 1852 June 12, “A Reminiscence of the Burmese War.”, in Littell's Living Age, volume 33, number 421, page 526:
   • Mewing as if ſhe meant Forgiveness To him that wrong'd her with his Heavineſs, And in that caſe ſhe pin'd and dy'd, He ſhould not be arraign'd or try'd, On her account, for Caticide,[…] 1724, Ned Ward, “The Merry Travellers: or, a Trip upon Ten-Toes from Moorfields to Bromley”, in The Wandring Spy: or, the Merry Observator, London: A. Bettesworth, published 1729, page 39:

Forms

Synonyms

catslaughter · ailurocide · felinicide · felicide