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Catgut

//ˈkætˌɡʌt// noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A cord of great toughness made from the intestines of animals, especially of sheep, used for strings of musical instruments, racquets, sutures etc. countable

    "The thing about Proust is his combination of the utmost sensibility with the utmost tenacity. He searches out these butterfly shades to the last grain. He is as tough as catgut & as evanescent as a butterfly's bloom."

  2. 2
    a strong cord made from the intestines of sheep and used in surgery wordnet
  3. 3
    The material from which such cords are made. uncountable
  4. 4
    perennial subshrub of eastern North America having downy leaves yellowish and rose flowers and; source of rotenone wordnet
  5. 5
    A sort of linen or canvas, with wide interstices. uncountable
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  1. 6
    Tephrosia virginiana (goat's rue, devil's shoestring). uncountable

Etymology

Possibly an abbreviation of the word cattlegut. Alternatively, it may derive by folk etymology from kitgut or kitstring — the word kit, meaning fiddle, having at some point been confused with the word kit for a young cat.

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