What does cattish mean?
Cattish is an adjective used to describe behavior that resembles that of a cat — most often in the figurative sense of being sly, spiteful, or subtly malicious. A cattish remark is one that seems mild on the surface but carries a hidden barb, much as a cat may toy with its prey before striking. The word can also be used more literally to describe something feline in appearance, movement, or temperament, such as a cattish glide or a cattish wariness. In tone, it is informal to semi-formal and generally carries a mildly negative connotation when applied to people, though it can be playful among friends. It sits alongside the more common word "catty," which has largely taken over the figurative sense in everyday speech, leaving "cattish" as a slightly more literary alternative that retains both the spiteful and the genuinely cat-like meanings.
Sly, spiteful, or subtly malicious in manner or speech.
"His cattish comment about her cooking was clearly meant to wound."
Often applied to remarks, gossip, or smiles rather than to open aggression.
Feline; having the appearance or manner of a cat.
"With a cattish stretch, she rose from the window seat."
Call someone 'cattish' and you're saying they move and strike like a cat — quietly, gracefully, and with claws.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cattish
Cattish is formed by adding the suffix -ish to "cat," a word of uncertain ultimate origin that entered Old English as "catt" and has cognates across Germanic languages, including Old Norse "köttur" and German "Katze." The suffix -ish, meaning "having the qualities of" or "somewhat," has been productive since Middle English. The word arose in English as part of the broader family of animal-based terms for human traits, paralleling formations such as "dogged" and "foxy."
How cattish is actually used
Informal to semi-formal. The dominant modern sense is figurative, describing subtly cruel or snide behavior, often applied to remarks or gossip. The literal feline sense is rarer and usually descriptive rather than pejorative.
Easily confused with cattish
"Caddie" or "caddy" refers to a person who carries golf clubs or a small container for tea, whereas "cattish" describes cat-like or spiteful behavior.