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Added 10 October 2026

catgut

/ˈkætˌɡʌt/ noun

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about catgut at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

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.

Origin

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.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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