CATS below
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
It is probable that the custom of tormenting cats by the ignorant arose from their supposed connexion with witches.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “CATS below” mean?
It is probable that the custom of tormenting cats by the ignorant arose from their supposed connexion with witches.
Is “CATS below” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.