Definition of CATGUT

catgut

Plural: catguts

Noun

  • perennial subshrub of eastern North America having downy leaves yellowish and rose flowers and; source of rotenone
  • a strong cord made from the intestines of sheep and used in surgery
  • A cord of great toughness made from the intestines of animals, especially of sheep, used for strings of musical instruments, racquets, sutures etc.
  • The material from which such cords are made.
  • A sort of linen or canvas, with wide interstices.
  • Tephrosia virginiana (goat's rue, devil's shoestring).
  • pl. -S a strong cord

Origin / 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.

Synonyms

goat's rue, gut, Tephrosia virginiana, wild sweet pea

Scrabble Score: 9

catgut: valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
catgut: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
catgut: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 12

catgut is a valid Words With Friends word