cat's-paw

2 definitions found

cat's-paw - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Cat's-paw \Cat's"-paw`\, n.
     1. (Naut.)
        (a) A light transitory air which ruffles the surface of
            the water during a calm, or the ripples made by such a
            puff of air.
        (b) A particular hitch or turn in the bight of a rope,
            into which a tackle may be hooked.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A dupe; a tool; one who, or that which, is used by another
        as an instrument to a accomplish his purposes.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: In this sense the term refers to the fable of the
           monkey using the cat's paw to draw the roasting
           chestnuts out of the fire.
           [1913 Webster]

cat's-paw - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  cat's-paw
      n 1: a person used by another to gain an end [syn: instrument,
           pawn, cat's-paw]
      2: a hitch in the middle of rope that has two eyes into which
         tackle can be hooked