Tomcat

Alternative forms

• tom cat, tom-cat

Origin

From Tom + cat, popularised by The Life and Adventures of a Cat (1760), by an anonymous author, in which the male cat was called Tom.

Full definition of tomcat

Noun

1. A tom, a male cat.

Verb

1. To prowl for sexual gratification.
• 1985, Peter Carey, Illywhacker, Faber and Faber 2003, p. 539:He would not go roaming the streets tom-catting like Mr Schick.

Derived terms

• tomcat around