catty

¹

[ kat-ee ]

adjective

, cat·ti·er, cat·ti·est.

1. catlike; feline.
2. slyly malicious; spiteful:

   a catty gossip.

   Synonyms: bitchy, malevolent, nasty, mean

catty

²

[ kat-ee ]

noun

, plural cat·ties.

1. (in China and southeast Asia) a weight equal to about 1½ pounds (680 grams) avoirdupois.

catty

¹

/ ˈkætɪ /

noun

1. a unit of weight, used esp in E Asia, traditionally equal to about one and a half pounds but formalized as 0.5 kg in mainland China, 0.6 kg in Taiwan and Thailand, and about 0.605 kg in Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore (Mandarin) Chinese name:jin

catty

²

/ ˈkætɪ /

adjective

1. informal.
   spiteful

   a catty remark

2. of or resembling a cat

Derived Forms

• ˈcattily, adverb
• ˈcattiness, noun

Other Words From

• catti·ly adverb
• catti·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of catty¹

First recorded in 1885–90; cat ( def ) + -y ¹

Origin of catty²

1545–55; < Malay kati

Word History and Origins

Origin of catty¹

C16: from Malay kati

Example Sentences

Glaser and the rest of the production team seemed determined to avoid making the women look stupid or catty.

From Time

Rip-and-reads of “Battle for the Soul” have grabbed anecdotes that make the participants look selfish or catty.

From Washington Post

“Catty, petty, and self-serving,” is how one of those way-right-of-center folk described Geithner to me.

From The Daily Beast

Catty quips about style choices are met with irrational exuberance over over-hyped new designs.

From The Daily Beast

At a local poker club catty corner from the Lenin statue, players were dismissive of the pro-Russia protestors.

From The Daily Beast

I meet one for drinks at a hip Spanish restaurant catty corner from the European Square.

From The Daily Beast

Victoria (Madeleine Stowe) and Nolan (Gabriel Mann) are as catty and delightful as ever, but the rest of the show feels tired.

From The Daily Beast

She is a nice little girl though, is Catty—the double-distilled essence of good-nature.

From Project Gutenberg

Catty Clowrie watched them and the captain, and the game too, noting everything, and making no mistakes.

From Project Gutenberg

Catty Clowrie was standing in her own doorway, but Cherrie did not stop to speak, only nodded, and knocked at Mrs. Marsh's door.

From Project Gutenberg

Did Miss Catty Clowrie, standing unheeded by, with ears as sharp as lances, hear this very straightforward avowal?

From Project Gutenberg

Any skirmish in a women's organization is referred to women and their catty ways.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• rancorous
• spiteful