kit-cat

American  

[kit-kat] / ˈkɪtˌkæt /

Or kit-kat

noun

1. any of a series of half-length portraits of members of the Kit-Cat Club that were painted by Sir Godfrey Kneller between 1702 and 1717, measuring almost uniformly 28 × 36 inches (71 × 91 centimeters), characteristically portray the head, upper torso, and hands, and are now in the National Gallery, London.

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Example Sentences

The portraits of most of the members of this society were painted by Sir Godfrey Kneller, of one size; thence still called the kit-cat size.

From 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue by Grose, Francis

A portrait of an old man, kit-cat, supposed by Murillo.

From A Bibliographical, Antiquarian and Picturesque Tour in France and Germany, Volume Three by Dibdin, Thomas Frognall

Cromwell Olivier, kit-cat the size of life, a Portrait of the finest carnation, who shews of a perfect likeness and verity, school of Vandyk, perhaps by himself.

From A Bibliographical, Antiquarian and Picturesque Tour in France and Germany, Volume Three by Dibdin, Thomas Frognall

"About so big," answered the other, pointing to a kit-cat.

From Bohemians of the Latin Quarter by Murger, Henry

The dimity curtains were drawn aside, the casement window was opened and carefully hooked back, and the kit-cat living portrait of a pleasant plump little woman of about forty appeared in the frame.

From One Maid's Mischief by Fenn, George Manville