cat's-paw

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cat's-paw

cat's-paw

also cats·paw (kăts′pô′)

n. pl. cat's-paws also cats·paws

1. A person used by another as a dupe or tool.

2. A light breeze that ruffles small areas of a water surface.

3. Nautical A knot made by twisting a section of rope to form two adjacent eyes through which a hook is passed, used in hoisting.

[From a fable about a monkey that used a cat's paw to pull chestnuts out of a fire.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

cat's-paw

1. a person used by another as a tool; dupe

2. (Knots) nautical a hitch in the form of two loops, or eyes, in the bight of a line, used for attaching it to a hook

3. (Physical Geography) a pattern of ripples on the surface of water caused by a light wind

[(sense 1) C18: so called from the tale of the monkey who used a cat's paw to draw chestnuts out of a fire]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

cat's′-paw`

or cats′paw`,

1. a person who is exploited by another; tool.

2. a light breeze that ruffles the surface of the water over a small area.

3. a hitch made in the bight of a rope to hold the hook of a tackle.

[1650–60; definition 1 so called in allusion to the story of the monkey that used a cat's paw to pull chestnuts from the fire]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun	1.	cat's-paw - a person used by another to gain an end pawn, instrument assistant, helper, help, supporter - a person who contributes to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose; "my invaluable assistant"; "they hired additional help to finish the work"
	2.	cat's-paw - a hitch in the middle of rope that has two eyes into which tackle can be hooked hitch - a knot that can be undone by pulling against the strain that holds it; a temporary knot

cat's-paw

also catspaw
noun

A person used or controlled by others:

dupe, instrument, pawn, puppet, stooge, tool.

Translations

cat's-paw

[ˈkætspɔː] N (fig) → instrumento m

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

cat’s-paw

n → Handlanger m

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

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References in classic literature ?

The very first Christmas night I ever spent away from land was employed in running before a Gulf of Lions gale, which made the old ship groan in every timber as she skipped before it over the short seas until we brought her to, battered and out of breath, under the lee of Majorca, where the smooth water was torn by fierce cat's-paws under a very stormy sky.

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And you see them bafflin' little cat's-paws? It's good weather and a falling tide.

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William Mastrosimone's play of eco-terrorism, media exploitation and resolute humanity, "Cat's-Paw" will be presented by the Academy of Arts and Academics.