English · Slang Attested

cat and kitten sneaking

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

The theft of pint and quart pots and small pewter spirit measures from public houses.

Examples

In the police courts it is not uncommon to hear that such and such low persons have been "had up" for "cat and kitten sneaking," i.e., stealing quart and pint pots.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

stealing pint and quart pots and small pewter spirit measures from public-houses.

Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)

Where it’s used: Origin British & Irish English

Sources & notes

Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.

Topics: Cats Historical slang (1800s)

Common questions

What does “cat and kitten sneaking” mean?

The theft of pint and quart pots and small pewter spirit measures from public houses.

Is “cat and kitten sneaking” formal or informal?

cat and kitten sneaking is generally slang.