alley cat

American  

noun

1. a homeless, usually mongrel, cat that scavenges for food in alleys, streets, etc.

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alley cat British  

noun

1. a homeless cat that roams in back streets

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alley cat Idioms  

1. A promiscuous woman; also, a person of loose morals. For example, She's constantly picking up men in bars—a real alley cat. This idiom transfers a stray cat that frequents alleys in search of food to a woman of easy virtue, especially a prostitute seeking customers. [Slang; early 1900s]

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Etymology

Origin of alley cat

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

I suppose she is referring to an alley cat or perhaps a jackal.

From The Wall Street Journal

I used all kinds of lounge lizards, alley cats, and I made a substitute father figure in Papa Croc, who was this Don King character.

From New York Times

“I would favor a license for cats, which would greatly diminish the number of unfed alley cats that must hunt for their living,” she once said.

From Washington Post

Both of the men were rolling up their sleeves, huffing and posturing like a pair of alley cats.

From Literature

And although he has his own sleeping space in a spare room, the former alley cat of late seems to have discovered that bedding down with humans clearly has its charms.

From Seattle Times