catty

¹ American  

[kat-ee] / ˈkæt i /

adjective

cattier, cattiest

1. catlike; feline.

2. slyly malicious; spiteful.

   a catty gossip.

   Synonyms:

   bitchy, malevolent, nasty, mean

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catty ² American  

[kat-ee] / ˈkæt i /

noun

plural

catties

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

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catty ¹ British  

/ ˈkætɪ /

adjective

1. informal spiteful

   a catty remark

2. of or resembling a cat

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catty ² British  

/ ˈkætɪ /

noun

1. (Mandarin) Chinese name:: jin.  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

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Other Word Forms

• cattily adverb
• cattiness noun

Etymology

Origin of catty¹

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

Origin of catty²

1545–55; < Malay kati

Example Sentences

Madariaga’s response was exquisitely catty, describing Morison’s biography of Columbus as “a most interesting Life from the yachtsman’s point of view.”

From The Wall Street Journal

When Mr. Cameron’s Na’vi growl and bare their teeth at one another, they come across as campy and catty critters—“Real Housewives of Pandora.”

From The Wall Street Journal

One of the few au courant innovations on “What’s in the Box?” involves surveillance: As one couple answers questions, the camera eavesdrops on the conversations among their competition, which can range from catty to worse.

From The Wall Street Journal

It captures the star as she falls in love with American Footballer Travis Kelce; interspersed with cautionary - and sometimes catty - tales about the music industry.

From BBC

In her video, Brown set her sights on multiple Daily Mail reporters and read aloud catty headlines including, “Why are Gen Zers like Millie Bobby Brown ageing so badly?”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• rancorous
• spiteful