a. colloq. [f. CATCH v. + -Y1.]
1. Adapted to catch the attention or fancy; attractive, ‘taking.’
1831. Fraser’s Mag., III. 679. A catchy, stage-like effect.
1885. Athenæum, 9 May, 593. Catchy titles.
1887. Ayrshire Post, 4 June, 5. The building is … by no means, unduly striking or ‘catchy’ to the eye.
2. That catches or entraps; deceptive.
1885. Sir N. Lindley, in Law Times Rep., 482/1. The condition imposed was a catchy and not a fair condition.
3. Readily caught up.
1881. Pall Mall Gaz., 25 April 11/2. His [Arthur Sullivan’s] music contains a smaller number of catchy tunes. Ibid. (1885), 2 Sept., 4/1. The music is not particularly original, but it is tuneful, smooth, and ‘catchy.’
4. Occurring in snatches, fitful, spasmodic.
1872. ‘Mark Twain,’ Innoc. Abr., 137. Catchy ejaculations of rapture.
1883. Blackw. Mag., Aug., 214. The wind … was very catchy.
5. Sc. ‘Merry, jocund’ (Jam.).
1804. Tarras, Poems, 2 (Jam.). He … langs To crack wi’ San’, and hear his catchie glees.
