How did the cat come to be called a cat?

• QX179R

  2 May 10, 17:31

  

  The english name hailed from European words used to describe this species of animal. Those European names for the cat all sound quite similar to one another, and were most probably derived from one source and altered according to each European tongue.

  For example, the Spanish call the cat "gato", the French call it "chat", the ancient Romans "cattus" or, earlier, "catta", the modern-day Italians call it "gatto", and the Welsh "kath".

  The original European word for cat was probably adapted from African or Asian words that meant cat, such as "kadis" from the Nubians, "kadiska" from the Berbers or "qitt" (meaning tomcat") from the Arabic tribes. The first record of the word "catta" in Europe dates from 75 AD.

• BanguIzai

  2 May 10, 18:32

  Originally posted by QX179R:

  

  The english name hailed from European words used to describe this species of animal. Those European names for the cat all sound quite similar to one another, and were most probably derived from one source and altered according to each European tongue.

  For example, the Spanish call the cat "gato", the French call it "chat", the ancient Romans "cattus" or, earlier, "catta", the modern-day Italians call it "gatto", and the Welsh "kath".

  The original European word for cat was probably adapted from African or Asian words that meant cat, such as "kadis" from the Nubians, "kadiska" from the Berbers or "qitt" (meaning tomcat") from the Arabic tribes. The first record of the word "catta" in Europe dates from 75 AD.

  so cute!