tomcat

American  

[tom-kat] / ˈtɒmˌkæt /

noun

1. a male cat.

2. Slang. a woman-chaser.

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verb (used without object)

tomcatted, tomcatting

1. Slang. (of a man) to pursue women in order to make sexual conquests (often followed byaround ).

   He tomcatted around before settling down.

Etymology

Origin of tomcat

1750–60; Tom + cat ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tomcat

He had traveled out with his wife and mother-in-law from the town of Vasylivka, just across the front line, with a few belongings in plastic bags and their ginger tomcat in a pet basket.

From New York Times ● Nov. 8, 2022

The Cats Protection charity said the family in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, was also being watched over by a tomcat, which was "very unusual".

From BBC ● May 18, 2021

Felis up: A particularly aggressive species of orange tomcat.

From Washington Post ● Jun. 8, 2017

The Tale of Ginger and Pickles” features Ginger, a yellow-tabby tomcat who, despite being a shopkeeper, prefers not to serve the mice who enter his store, “because he said it made his mouth water.”

From The New Yorker ● Feb. 1, 2016

But I saw nothing but the crossed paws of the old tomcat, napping just inside the door.

From "A Long Way from Chicago" by Richard Peck

Related Words

• kitten
• kitty