1. The foot of a cat; † used lit. in reference to the fable or tale of a monkey (or a fox) using the foot or paw of a cat to rake roasted chestnuts out of the burning coals.
(The story is told by some of a monkey belonging to Pope Julius II., 1503–13; see N. & Q., Ser. VI. VII. 286.)
[1622. Mabbe, trans. Aleman’s Guzman d’Alf., II. 167. To take the Cat by the foote, and therewith to rake the coales out of the Ouen?]
c. 1661. Argyle’s Last Will, in Harl. Misc. (1746), VIII. 30/1. Like the Monkey, that took the Cat’s Foot to pull the Chesnut out of the Fire.
1666. Pepys, Diary, 6 June. My Lord Brouncker, which I make use of as a monkey do the cat’s foot.
1686. W. de Britaine, Hum. Prud., 320. He makes use of others, as the Fox did of the Cats foot to pull the Apple out of the fire for his own eating.
† 2. Hence fig. = CAT’S-PAW 2. Obs.
1675. Penn, Eng. Pres. Interest Disc., 40. It is the Interest of Governours … not to be the Cat’s Foot.
1693. T. Pitts, New Martyrol., 7. The same person lay behind the Curtain, and thrust their Cats-feet into the Fire, who has since appear’d publickly in prosecution of the same Cause.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Tool … the Creature of any Cause … or Cat’s Foot.
3. A plant: a. Ground-ivy, Nepeta Glechoma. b. Mountain Cudweed, Antennaria dioica.
1597. Gerard, Herbal, I. ccc. 705. In English ground Iuie … Tunehoofe, and Cats foote.
1758. J. S., Le Dran’s Observ. Surg. (1771), 122. An Infusion made with the Head of white Poppies, Cat’s-foot, Colt’s-foot, and Maiden-hair.
1775. J. Lightfoot, Flora Scot. (1777), I. 470. Mountain Cudweed or Cats-Foot.
1878. in Britten & Holland, Plant-n. [Still used in both senses.]
