catspaw, catspaw (katspa)

1. Naut.: (a) A light air perceived in a calm by a slight rippling of the surface of the water. We were now in the calm latitudes, the equatorial belt of baffling cat's - paws and gla y seas. W. C. Ru ell , Sailor's Sweetheart, ix. ( b ) A peculiar twist or hitch in the bight of a rope, made to hook a tackle on. When the mate came to shake the catspaw out of the downhaul, and we began to boom-end the sail, it shook the ship to her center. R. H. Dana, Jr. , Before the Mast, p. 387. 2. One whom another makes use of to ac a battle (see cateran ).] 1. A conical cairn or monolith found in various parts of Scotland, and supposed to mark the locality of a battle. -2. One of the upright stones which support a grate, there being one on each side. "The term is said to originate from this being the favorite seat of the cat " ( Jamie son ).