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

The curious calico and her orange tomcat friend, Monu, had recently been sterilized and returned to the market.

From Salon • Oct. 14, 2024

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

They find themselves competing for McBurney’s favor as he sets about manipulating their vanities and insecurities, smiling like a tomcat who has stumbled into a cage full of canaries.

From New York Times • Jun. 22, 2017

Felis up: A particularly aggressive species of orange tomcat.

From Washington Post • Jun. 8, 2017

One night she’d have a nightmare about old Shotgun Cheatham sitting up in his coffin, and on the night after that she’d dream that Grandma’s big old tomcat was jumping at her.

From "A Long Way from Chicago" by Richard Peck

Related Words

• kitten
• kitty