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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread cat's paw #172495 01/11/2008 12:10 PM Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 2 Farmer stranger Farmer stranger Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 2 Very interesting! My father (1918-1998)always called a tool which he used to pull nails a "cat's paw". It was about 10" long and had a flat end and a curved end, both with a V in the center to hook the nail. Where do you suppose that originated? An extension of the first given meaning perhaps? Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: cat's paw Farmer #172497 01/11/2008 2:24 PM Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,295 Netherlands, the Hague BranShea Carpal Tunnel BranShea Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,295 Netherlands, the Hague Good day, here it is: link 1.hammer and cat's paw The resemblance to a cat's paw is obvious. I think the whole idea basically comes from this tool; tool first fable second. (?) metaphor third.(or vice versa) There's also a cat's paw nebula. link 2. nebula Last edited by BranShea; 01/11/2008 2:58 PM. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: cat's paw Farmer #172499 01/11/2008 3:46 PM Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 1 re4mul8 stranger re4mul8 stranger Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 1 You beat me to the "punch." I have one of these in my toolbox. Good for that occasional oops during framing or for salvaging planks; it tends to rip up the lumber so not used in finish work. I'd suspected it's name was somehow derived from it's action since resembling that of a playful cat.... Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: cat's paw re4mul8 #172505 01/11/2008 5:53 PM Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 1 The Bard stranger The Bard stranger Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 1 This term is also used in the building trades to denote a plaster finish on a wall that is slightly rough, giving it a light "troweled" look. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: cat's paw The Bard #172532 01/12/2008 8:50 PM Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,295 Netherlands, the Hague BranShea Carpal Tunnel BranShea Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,295 Netherlands, the Hague Helen, could this be the cat's paw knitting stitch? Stitch Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. (have been... ------  Words from medicine  Beheading words  Meta-words  Words from classical mythology  Animal Safari  Words with unusual etymologies  Eponyms or words derived from p...  Loanwords from German  English as a global language Print Thread Switch to Threaded Mode Show Likes Link Copied to Clipboard View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Website Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Website Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary

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