tipcat

[ tip-kat ]

noun

1. a game in which a short piece of wood, tapered at both ends, is struck lightly at one end with a bat, causing the wood to spring into the air so that it can be batted for a distance.
2. Also called pussy. the tapered piece of wood used in this game.

tipcat

/ ˈtɪpˌkæt /

noun

1. a game in which a short sharp-ended piece of wood (the cat) is tipped in the air with a stick

Word History and Origins

Origin of tipcat¹

1670–80; tip ⁴ + cat ( def )

Example Sentences

It was something between a guitar and a cithern, suggestive of a primitive violin, and he played on it sometimes with his fingers, sometimes with a short bit of wood like a child's tipcat; and, he said, could make good music with a hazel-wand or "the dry straight rod of a quicken when that's to be had."

From Project Gutenberg

The four chief sins of which he was guilty were dancing, ringing the bells of the parish church, playing at tipcat and reading the history of Sir Bevis of Southampton.

From Project Gutenberg

In the middle of a game at tipcat he paused, and stood staring wildly upwards with his stick in his hand.

From Project Gutenberg

From Tipcat quick away I fly For fear they'll hit me in the eye.

From Project Gutenberg

As to sports and pastimes, the boys are faithfully exercised in all that are on record,—quoits, races, prison-bars, tipcat, trap-ball, bandy-ball, wrestling, leaping, and what not.

From Project Gutenberg