cat’s-meat
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
A coarse term for the lungs—the "lights" or lungs of animals being usually sold to feed cats.
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.
Common questions
What does “cat’s-meat” mean?
A coarse term for the lungs—the "lights" or lungs of animals being usually sold to feed cats.
Is “cat’s-meat” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.