How Do You Spell CATGUT?

Pronunciation: [kˈatɡʌt] (IPA)

The word "catgut", commonly used in musical instruments, is actually a misnomer. It is not made from cat intestines but rather from sheep or goat intestines. The spelling of "catgut" can be confusing as it is not pronounced phonetically. The IPA phonetic transcription for "catgut" is /ˈkætɡʌt/, where the "a" in "cat" is pronounced as the short 'a' sound and the "u" in "gut" is pronounced as the short 'uh' sound. Despite the misleading name, catgut strings are still favored by some musicians for their warm, rich tone.

CATGUT Meaning and Definition

1. Catgut refers to a type of cord or thread made from the natural fibers found in the walls of animal intestines, typically sheep or goats. Despite its name, it is not derived from cat intestines. The term "catgut" is believed to originate from the Old English word "cattgut," which simply means "gut string."

   The process of catgut production involves carefully separating, cleaning, and then twisting or spinning the intestinal fibers into a strong and flexible strand. These strands are then woven together to form thicker threads or used as individual cords. Catgut is widely recognized for its strength and elasticity, making it ideal for various applications.

   Traditionally, catgut has been extensively used in the manufacturing of musical instrument strings, particularly for violins, violas, cellos, and double basses. The unique properties of catgut contribute to the tonal quality and responsiveness of these instruments. Additionally, catgut has been employed in surgical procedures and medical applications, such as stitching wounds and closing surgical incisions. However, due to advances in medical technology, synthetic materials like nylon and polyglycolic acid have largely replaced catgut in modern medicine.

   It is important to note that the term "catgut" can be misleading as it does not refer to the intestines of cats. The name is solely a historical remnant, and the manufacturing process usually utilizes the intestines of sheep or goats.

2. Sheep's intestine twisted into cords of varying thickness, used in medicine as an absorbable suture and ligature material.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for CATGUT

• catact
• caugt
• cagut
• canget
• catcus
• tatget
• cahgt
• catyst
• cangue
• katgut
• catect
• Catghup
• cagget
• catguuts
• catguts
• catast
• catfght
• daugut
• Catsute
• Catfyt
• KattGut
• KittGut
• cathict

Etymology of CATGUT

The word "catgut" has an interesting etymology as it is derived from an archaic use of the term "gut". Contrary to what the name might suggest, catgut is not made from the intestinal tract of cats.

Originally, "catgut" referred to a type of cord or string, often used in musical instruments like violins, that is made from the intestines of various animals. The term "catgut" comes from the Latin word "cattus", which meant "cat", and "gut", which referred to the intestines. However, the term "cat" in "catgut" does not refer to the animal, but rather to the word "kit", which was Old English for "fiddle". Therefore, "catgut" actually meant "kit (or fiddle) gut".

Plural form of CATGUT is CATGUTS