Middle English Dictionary Entry
kitǒun n.
Entry Info
| Forms | kitǒun n. Also kit(t)on, ketoun. |
| Etymology | ?AF; cp. CF chaton, chitoun. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. chit(te, chiton, ketling.
1.
The young of a domesticated cat, a kitten; also, the young of a wildcat.
Associated quotations
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)prol.190,202 : Þere þe catte is a kitoun, þe courte is ful elyng..Shal neuer þe cat ne þe kitoun bi my conseille be greued.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)1.214 : And ȝe, route of ratons, of rest men a-wake, Ne were þe cat of þe court And ȝonge Kytones towarde.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)39 : Þei beren her kytons [Dgb: kitouns] And be in hure loue as othir Cattes sauf þei han but ii kyttons [Dgb: ketouns; F chatons] at onys..The Catte helpeþ euel to norssh his kyttons as þe wolf doþ his welpes.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)665 : He..drough oute a litill kyton as blakke as eny cool..he seide that he hadde nede ther-of in his house for rattes and mees.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1486 Sln.Bk.Hawking (Sln 3488)144 : Which metes ben good fore…haukez…A Catte other a keton, other moton other while And an hare thies ben good fore a sike hauke…Quayle, Roke and haysok best of all.
Note: New spelling