kitty

¹

[kit-ee]

noun

plural

kitties 

1. a kitten.

2. a pet name for a cat.

kitty

²

[kit-ee]

noun

plural

kitties 

1. a pool or reserve of money, often collected from a number of persons or sources and designated for a particular purpose specified by the contributors.

2. Cards.

   1. a pool into which players in a game put a certain amount of their winnings for some special purpose, as to pay for refreshments.

   2. the pot, or a special pot, for the collection of forfeits or payments for certain high hands.

   3. widow.

Kitty

³

[kit-ee]

noun

1. a female given name, form of Katherine or Catherine.

kitty

¹

/ ˈkɪtɪ /

noun

1. the pool of bets in certain gambling games

2. any shared fund of money, etc

3. (in bowls) the jack

kitty

²

/ ˈkɪtɪ /

noun

1. a diminutive or affectionate name for a kitten cat 1

Word History and Origins

Origin of kitty¹

First recorded in 1710–20; kitt(en) + -y ²

Origin of kitty²

First recorded in 1815–25; kit ¹ + -y ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of kitty¹

C19: see _kit ¹

Origin of kitty²

C18: see _kit ³

Example Sentences

A public crowdfunding campaign raised bail money, but the kitty quickly ran dry, leaving many defendants stuck in high-security prisons awaiting trial.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He was also accused of profiting from an extortion racket called “the kitty.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Another woman, who we're calling Jemima, says on a recent hen weekend, she had to contribute to a central kitty for bars - even though she doesn't drink.

Read more on BBC

County Animal Care and Control generally has a large range of kitties to choose from, ranging in age from lil’ baby to old sweetie.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“I think Maureen is a genius for having a kitty cat birthday party, because, look!”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• kitten