This week’s theme
Which came first, noun or verb?

This week’s words
truffle
scunner
tomcat
whinge
nitch

---

Follow us on

---

A.Word.A.Day

PRONUNCIATION:

(TOM-kat)

MEANING:

noun:	1. A male domestic cat.
	2. A womanizer.
verb intr.:	To pursue women promiscuously.

ETYMOLOGY:

The word was probably popularized by the anonymously published children’s book The Life and Adventures of a Cat (1760). Earliest documented use: for a cat: 1772; for a womanizer; 1884, for verb: 1917.

USAGE:

“Just before Khloe gave birth last year, there were rumours about [Tristan Thompson] cheating. In recent weeks the NBA star, who plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers, is reported to have been tomcatting around again.”
Cracking up with the Kardashians; The Daily Mirror (London, UK); Feb 21, 2019.

See more usage examples of tomcat in Vocabulary.com’s dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: