Of the cat
The cat is called musio, mouse-catcher, because it is the enemy of mice. It is commonly called catus, cat, from captura, the act of catching. Others say it gets the name from capto, because it catches mice with its sharp eyes. For it has such piercing sight that it overcomes the dark of night with the gleam of light from its eyes. As a result, the Greek word catus means sharp, or cunning.
—definition from a Medieval bestiary
The cat's name is Addy, which, when she was a kitten, was quite adorable, and that is how she got her name. Addy, who is about three years old, loves escaping the house to explore the outdoors, and is very friendly to humans, but is usually unsociable to other cats. She loves catnip.
ReplyDeleteAny etymologist worth his measly wages would tell you, looking at that picture, that the word cat is derived from the Latin adjective cutus, -a -um, meaning cute.
ReplyDeleteFrom Christopher Smart's 'Jubilate Agno':
ReplyDelete1 For I will consider my Cat Jeoffry.
2 For he is the servant of the Living God duly and daily serving him.
3 For at the first glance of the glory of God in the East he worships in his way.
4 For this is done by wreathing his body seven times round with elegant quickness.
Do read the rest if you're a cat lover!