kitten

American  

[kit-n] / ˈkɪt n /

noun

1. a young cat.

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verb (used with or without object)

1. (of cats) to give birth; bear.

kitten British  

/ ˈkɪtən /

noun

1. a young cat

2. US equivalent: have a cow.  informal to react with disapproval, anxiety, etc

   she had kittens when she got the bill

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verb

1. (of cats) to give birth to (young)

kitten Idioms  

1. see have a fit (kittens); weak as a kitten.

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Other Word Forms

• kitten-like adjective
• kittenlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of kitten

1350–1400; Middle English kitoun, apparently blend of kiteling kitling and Middle French chitoun, variant of chaton kitten

Example Sentences

I’ve never worn high heels before, just kitten heels to church and school dances.

From Literature

Her “It” girls often keep company with a coterie of tiny monkeys, kittens or creatures with confections for heads.

From Los Angeles Times

According to Flores and Velasquez, one of the deputies took a liking to a family kitten and offered to take it home with him.

From Salon

When we arrived back in Serbia with no further travel plans for the first time in a decade, I found an abandoned kitten under a pile of firewood in our shed.

From The Wall Street Journal

“I have known this elephant ever since she was born. She is as gentle as a kitten, I promise you.”

From Literature

Related Words

• kitty