Dictionary

kitty en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• [ˈkʰɘ.ɾiː] (New-Zealand)
• (General-American) audio
• [ˈkʰɪɾi] (Canada, General-American)
• (Australia) audio
• /ˈkɪti/ (Canada, General-American)
• /ˈkɪti/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From kitt(en) + -y (diminutive suffix). Compare Dutch katje (“kitty”). Etymology 1 sense 2 (“vulva and/or vagina”) is probably modelled after the use of pussy to refer to the body part, from the appearance of an unshaven vulva.

Meanings

1. (informal) A young cat; a kitten.
   • He said there was a beast with fangs in the alley, but it turned out to be a cute little kitty.
   • To a child, a cat may look like a moving toy, so it's important to explain how delicate and sensitive a cat's body is from the very start. […] Even how a child picks up and handles the cat can make the kitty begin to fear the very sight of the youngster. 2007, Pam Johnson-Bennett, “Why Can’t We All Just Get Along?”, in Starting from Scratch: How to Correct Behavior Problems in Your Adult Cat, New York, N.Y.: Penguin Books, →ISBN, pages 271–272:
   • Grandma-cats don't very often care for their grand-kittens. But I know two little Maltese kittens that have the nicest grandma that ever any little kittens had. […] The kitties are named "Bill" and "May." They are good names. […] Of the kitties, you can't tell which is the prettier, however hard you try; and they are good kitties, as they ought to be, with a mamma and a grandma to take care of them. 1875 July, “The Kitties’ Grandma”, in The Dayspring, volume IV (New Series; Old Series volume XXVII), number 7, Boston, Mass.: Unitarian Sunday-School Society, →OCLC, page 107, column 1:
   • A pretty young Kitty, / She had that could Purr; / 'Tvvas gameſome and handſome, / And had a rare Furr; […] a. 1708 (date written), [Henry Playford], “Puss in a Corner: A New Song, to a Pretty New Tune Made by a Man of Quality”, in Thomas d’Urfey, compiler, Songs Compleat, Pleasant and Divertive; […], volume II, London: […] W. Pearson, for J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1719, →OCLC, page 82:
   • Warm kitty, soft kitty, / Little ball of fur, / Sleepy kitty, happy kitty, / Purr! Purr! Purr! 1937, Edith Newlin, “Warm Kitty”, in Laura Pendleton MacCarteney, compiler, Songs for the Nursery School: […], Cincinnati, Oh.: Willis Music, →OCLC, archived from the original on 23 Jun 2020, page 21:
2. (broadly, informal) An adult cat; also (often childish), sometimes in the form Kitty: a pet name for a cat of any age.
   • Here, kitty kitty! Nice kitty!
3. (euphemistic, slang) Synonym of pussy (“vulva and/or vagina”).
   • The way Tariq was licking her kitty had her clutching the sheets. 2017, CoCo Amoure [pseudonym], Falling For A Young Boss (Promise Me Forever; 2), [Atlanta, Ga.]: Sullivan Group Publishing, →ISBN:
   • Looking at Lynn's naked body one last time, Mia decided to try something else. She waited for Lynn to bend down to grab her underwear and then came up behind her and began licking her kitty with long, wet strokes. 2010 June, Anya Nicole, “A Fraud, a Phony, a Fake”, in Judgment Day, Deer Park, N.Y.: Urban Books, →ISBN, page 166:
   • Evan's tongue was magic. She'd heard most men didn't have the skills to make a girl lose her mind by licking her kitty. But Evan … 2019 November 18, Shanté Funches, “Mya and Evan”, in Web of Desire, [Bloomington, Ind.]: Xlibris, →ISBN:

Forms

Deriveds

kitty litter · kitty kiss · kitty witty · kitty's titties · kitty bar the door · kitty door · kitty crack · kitteh · tough titty said the kitty · kitty cat · kitty-cornered · pet the kitty · kitty flip · kitty cruise · titty · kitty corner · dust kitty · kitty wants a corner · kitty flipping · kitty-cat · kitty-corner

Relateds

kitten · kittenish · kittenlike · kit

Synonyms

cat · grimalkin · malkin · puss · kitty · mog · mouser · kitter · pussy-cat · pussy · housecat · puss · domestic cat · kitty-cat · kitten · pussy · moggy · kitty witty · baudrons · kibty · pussy

Translations (101)

hu cica ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · fr mimi (pet name for a cat of any age) · yi קעצעלע ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · ru ко́тик (pet name for a cat of any age) · et kiisu ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · yue 貓仔 /猫仔 ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · cmn 貓咪 /猫咪 ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · he חֲתַלְתּוּלָה ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · fr minet ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · eo kateto ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · sv kisse ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · pl kicia (pet name for a cat of any age) · fi mirri (synonym of pussy (vulva and/or vagina) — see also pussy) · ka ფისუნია ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · vo jikatül ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · ko 고양이 ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · be кі́са (pet name for a cat of any age) · be кі́ска (pet name for a cat of any age) · vo hikatül ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · hu cica (pet name for a cat of any age) · ko 냐옹 ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · ru ки́са (pet name for a cat of any age) · ca mix ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · es michi ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · he חֲתַלְתּוּל ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · vo jikatil ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · sh маца ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · fi kisu (pet name for a cat of any age) · yi קעצל ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · es gatico ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · it micio ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · hy կատվիկ ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · ru ко́шка ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · pl kiciuś (pet name for a cat of any age) · pdu kittaou class ar ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · ar هُرَيْرَة ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · mk маче ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · uk ко́тик (pet name for a cat of any age) · ru ки́ска (pet name for a cat of any age) · ru ко́шечка ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · nl kattenjong ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · vo hikatil ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · fi kisu ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · eo kanjo ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · es minino ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · ja ネコちゃん (pet name for a cat of any age) · ru ки́са ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · ru ки́ска ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · ru ко́шечка (pet name for a cat of any age) · io katyuno ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · sv misse (pet name for a cat of any age) · ka ფისო ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · be кацянё ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · ja 小猫 ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · io kateto ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · be кацяня́ ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · fr chaton ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · vo katil ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · vo katül ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · ja 子ネコ ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · sh maca ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · eo katido ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · it gattino ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · sv kisse (pet name for a cat of any age) · ru котёнок ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · de Kätzchen ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · he גּוּרַת חֲתוּלִים ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · uk ки́ця (pet name for a cat of any age) · mk маченце ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · ja 仔猫 ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · lou minou ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · uk кошеня́ ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · he גּוּר חֲתוּלִים ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · th เจ้าเหมียว (pet name for a cat of any age) · de Mieze ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · uk кі́тка (pet name for a cat of any age) · pl kotek ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · it micino ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · el ψιψίνα ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · ja 子猫 ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · da kattekilling ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · it micio (pet name for a cat of any age) · uk кото́к (pet name for a cat of any age) · pl kotek (pet name for a cat of any age) · fa پیشی ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · no kattunge ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · eo kaĉjo ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · it micetto ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · da killing ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · uk ки́цька (pet name for a cat of any age) · es gatito ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · ko 나비 ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · yi קעצעלע (pet name for a cat of any age) · th แมวเหมียว (pet name for a cat of any age) · nl katje ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · pt gatinho ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · tr pisi (pet name for a cat of any age) · pl kicia ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · bg котенце ((informal) young cat — see also kitten) · ja ニャンコ (pet name for a cat of any age) · eo kateto (pet name for a cat of any age)

kitty en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• [ˈkʰɘ.ɾiː] (New-Zealand)
• (General-American) audio
• [ˈkʰɪɾi] (Canada, General-American)
• (Australia) audio
• /ˈkɪti/ (Canada, General-American)
• /ˈkɪti/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

Origin uncertain; etymology 2 sense 2 (relating to card games) is possibly from kit (“collection of items”) + -y (diminutive suffix).

Meanings

1. (qualifier:bowls) Synonym of jack (“a small, typically white, ball used as the target ball in bowls”).
2. (especially, slang) A pool of money to which card players contribute a portion of their winnings, which is used for paying shared expenses such as the cost of the premises or refreshments; (by extension) any pool of money to which people contribute for shared expenses or other joint purposes; also, any fund of liquid assets set aside for future use.
   • Your business is busted up, your thousand dollars is gone into the kitty of this corrupt country on that last bluff you made, […] 1909 April, O. Henry [pseudonym; William Sydney Porter], “The Fourth in Salvador”, in Roads of Destiny, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, →OCLC, pages 213–214:
   • They told me you always had to come back to the band with your hand open so they could see what tip you got and you put that in the kitty. 1995 September 8 (date interviewed), Peter Vacher, quoting Betty Hall Jones, “Betty Hall Jones: Piano, Organ, and Vocals”, in Swingin’ on Central Avenue: African American Jazz in Los Angeles, Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield, published 2015, →ISBN, page 99:
3. (especially, slang) Synonym of pot (“a quantity of money available to be won in a round or a game”).
4. (especially, slang) Synonym of widow (“an additional hand of playing cards dealt face-down in some card games, to be used by the highest bidder”).

Forms

Deriveds

kitty party

Synonyms

jack · stakes · pool · pot · widow

Translations (10)

pt vaquinha (pool of money to which card players contribute, which is used for paying shared expenses; any pool of money to which people contribute for shared expenses or other joint purposes; any fund of liquid assets set aside for future use) · el κοινό ταμείο (pool of money to which card players contribute, which is used for paying shared expenses; any pool of money to which people contribute for shared expenses or other joint purposes; any fund of liquid assets set aside for future use) · bg банка (pool of money to which card players contribute, which is used for paying shared expenses; any pool of money to which people contribute for shared expenses or other joint purposes; any fund of liquid assets set aside for future use) · es bote (pool of money to which card players contribute, which is used for paying shared expenses; any pool of money to which people contribute for shared expenses or other joint purposes; any fund of liquid assets set aside for future use) · es vaquita (pool of money to which card players contribute, which is used for paying shared expenses; any pool of money to which people contribute for shared expenses or other joint purposes; any fund of liquid assets set aside for future use) · fr cagnotte (pool of money to which card players contribute, which is used for paying shared expenses; any pool of money to which people contribute for shared expenses or other joint purposes; any fund of liquid assets set aside for future use) · fi kassa (pool of money to which card players contribute, which is used for paying shared expenses; any pool of money to which people contribute for shared expenses or other joint purposes; any fund of liquid assets set aside for future use) · de Spielkasse (pool of money to which card players contribute, which is used for paying shared expenses; any pool of money to which people contribute for shared expenses or other joint purposes; any fund of liquid assets set aside for future use) · ga leac (pool of money to which card players contribute, which is used for paying shared expenses; any pool of money to which people contribute for shared expenses or other joint purposes; any fund of liquid assets set aside for future use) · es pozo (pool of money to which card players contribute, which is used for paying shared expenses; any pool of money to which people contribute for shared expenses or other joint purposes; any fund of liquid assets set aside for future use)

kitty en · NOUN · etymology 3

Pronunciation

• [ˈkʰɘ.ɾiː] (New-Zealand)
• (General-American) audio
• [ˈkʰɪɾi] (Canada, General-American)
• (Australia) audio
• /ˈkɪti/ (Canada, General-American)
• /ˈkɪti/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

Origin uncertain, possibly a clipping of kid(cote) (“lockup, prison”) (UK, dialectal, obsolete) + -y (diminutive suffix).

Meanings

1. (Northern-England, slang) A jail, a prison; also, a lockup.
   • Besides we had a nice tollbooth, / To pull'd down was a pity, / And in its stead we've got—forsooth— / A vile pernicious kitty. / […] / Like convicts in a condemn'd cell, / They're fed on bread and water; / 'Midst winter's cold and putrid smell, / Thus tort'ring human nature. 1824, Robert Gilchrist, “The Retrospect”, in A Collection of Original Local Songs. […], 2nd edition, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland: […] [F]or the author, by W. A. Mitchell, […], →OCLC, page 28:

Forms

kitty en · NOUN · etymology 4

Pronunciation

• [ˈkʰɘ.ɾiː] (New-Zealand)
• (General-American) audio
• [ˈkʰɪɾi] (Canada, General-American)
• (Australia) audio
• /ˈkɪti/ (Canada, General-American)
• /ˈkɪti/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From Kitty (“diminutive of the female given name Katherine”).

Meanings

1. (UK, dialectal) In full kitty-wren: synonym of wren (“any bird of the family Troglodytidae; specifically the Eurasian wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)”).
   • [T]he male wrens (Troglodytes) of North America, build "cock-nests," to roost in, like the males of our distinct Kitty-wrens,—a habit wholly unlike that of any other known bird. [1859 November 24, Charles Darwin, “Instinct”, in On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, […], London: John Murray, […], →OCLC, page 243:

Forms

kitty en · NOUN · etymology 5

Pronunciation

• [ˈkʰɘ.ɾiː] (New-Zealand)
• (General-American) audio
• [ˈkʰɪɾi] (Canada, General-American)
• (Australia) audio
• /ˈkɪti/ (Canada, General-American)
• /ˈkɪti/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

Clipping of kitt(iwake) + -y (diminutive suffix).

Meanings

1. (UK, archaic, dialectal) Synonym of kittiwake (“either of two small gulls in the genus Rissa of the family Laridae; specifically (Ireland, UK), the black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla)”).
   • In the parish of Gaurie three curiosities upon the coast are exhibited to travellers: 1st, A perpendicular rock, of very great extent, full of shelves, and possessed by thousands of birds called kittywakes. […] Some people are fond of eating the young kitties; but the shooting of them is a favourite diversion every year. 1806, Ro[bert] Forsyth, “Banffshire”, in The Beauties of Scotland: […], volume IV, Edinburgh: […] [John Brown] for Arch[ibald] Constable and Co. and John Brown, […], →OCLC, page 460:

Forms

Synonyms

kittiwake