Also 8 catcal. [From the nocturnal cry or ‘waul’ of the cat.]
1. A squeaking instrument, or kind of whistle, used esp. in play-houses to express impatience or disapprobation. (See Spectator, No. 361.)
1659–60. Pepys, Diary (1879), I. 67. I … called on Adam Chard, and bought a cat-call there, it cost me two groats.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 361, ¶ 2. I was very much surprised with the great Consort of Cat-calls … to see so many Persons of Quality of both Sexes assembled together at a kind of Catterwawling.
1732. Fielding, Covent Gard. Trag., I. i. I heard a tailor sitting by my side, Play on his catcal, and cry out, ‘Sad stuff!’
1753. Gray’s Inn Jrnl., No. 61. A shrill toned Catcall, very proper to be used at the next new Tragedy.
1865. Lond. Rev., 30 Dec., 687/1. That vilest of all the inventions of Jubal, the catcall.
2. The sound made by this instrument or an imitation with the voice; a shrill screaming whistle.
1749. Johnson, Irene, Prol. Should partial cat-calls all his hopes confound He bids no trumpet quell the fatal sound.
a. 1764. Lloyd, Author’s Apol., Wks. 1774, I. 1.
| And thence with neither taste nor wit, | |
| By powerful catcall from the pit. |
1817. Mar. Edgeworth, Harrington (1833), 82.
1881. Daily Tel., 27 Dec., 2/6. In the face of catcalls and other occasional demonstrations from the ‘gods.’
3. One who uses the instrument.
1714. Budgell, Spect., No. 602. A notorious Rake that headed a Party of Cat-cals.
