kitten · Contextualize

Etymology

From Middle English kitoun, kytton, kyton, keton (“kitten”), of obscure origin. Seemingly from, and usually explained as being from, unattested Anglo-Norman *kitoun, *ketun (compare Old French chitoun, cheton, chaton (“kitten”), diminutive of cat, chat (“cat”)); whence Modern French chaton (“kitten”). Similar words of Germanic origin may have reinforced this word; compare English kitling (“kit, kitten”), Low German Kitten (“kitten”), Icelandic kettlingur (“kitten”), Middle English chitte ("whelp, pup", see chit). The idea that kitoun, rather than being of Anglo-Norman origin, was in fact a purely Germanic derivation from one of these words is etymologically problematic, but cannot be definitively ruled out.

derived from *kitoun✻
inherited from kitoun

Definitions

1
A young cat, especially before sexual maturity (reached at about seven months).
- Jailing her on Wednesday, magistrate Liz Clyne told Robins: "You have shown little remorse either for the death of the kitten or the trauma to your former friend Sarah Knutton." She was also banned from keeping animals for 10 years.
2
A young rabbit, rat, hedgehog, squirrel, fox, beaver, badger, etc.
- 2009, Kathryn Walker, See How Rabbits Grow, publ. by PowerKiDS press (The Rosen Publishing Group Inc.), page 10. Rabbit babies are called kittens or kits. The mother prepares a cosy nest for her kittens.
A moth of the genus Furcula.
›+ 2 more definitionsshow fewer
1. 4
  A term of endearment, especially for a woman.
  - Speak only when spoken to, kitten.
2. 5
  To give birth to kittens.
  - A cat about to kitten, must not be spoken of by its name, but called a witch. (Madagascar.)
  - 'Princess the Lady Regina of Alphington is about to kitten. I must be there to support her.'

The neighborhood

Derived

bobkitten, cat and kitten sneaking, Discord kitten, dust kitten, e-kitten, have kittens, kit, kittenball, kittendom, kitten factory, kitten farm, kitten-hearted, kitten heel, kittenhood, kittenish, kittenless, kittenlike, kitten mill, kittenness, kittenship, kitteny, kitty, Pallas' kitten, playful as a kitten, safe as a kitten, safe as a kitten in a basket, safe as a kitten in a box, sallow kitten, Schrodinger kitten, Schrödinger kitten, Schrodinger's kitten, Schrödinger's kitten, Schroedinger kitten, Schroedinger's kitten, sex kitten, smitten kitten, squitten, werekitten

Vish — recursive loop

A definitional loop anchored at kitten. Each word in the ring is defined by the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself. Scroll to it and watch.

A definitional loop anchored at kitten. Each word in the ring appears in the definition of the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself.

8 hops · closes at kitten

curated · pre-corpus. live cycle detection across the full graph is the next major milestone.