catslaughter

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English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

cat +‎ slaughter. Compare manslaughter.

Noun[edit]

catslaughter (uncountable)

  1. The killing of a cat, the slaughter of cats.
    • 1862, Mrs. Alfred Gatty, Aunt Judy's Letters, page 93:
      After a long and patient investigation of facts, the Coroner returned a verdict of wilful catslaughter against a party or parties unknown.
    • 1929, Southern Pacific Bulletin:
      Bill intends to file a charge of "catslaughter" against the villian when caught.
    • 1934, Horace Annesley Vachell, Nether Applewhite: A Story of Strange Lives in an English Village:
      '... And then he committed — catslaughter.'
      Caleb, although sensible that his leg had been pulled, roared with laughter.
    • 2006, Al Martinez, Barkley: A Dog's Journey, →ISBN:
      Had Barkley done in the Topeka cat, it may have been manslaughter, or catslaughter, I guess, but not murder.
    • 2010, Michael Lawrence, Jiggy McCue: Kid Swap, Hachette UK, →ISBN:
      The woman was suing the fire service for catslaughter.

Synonyms[edit]

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