See quotations.
1829. Every man who could “whip his weight in wild cats” burned with desire of reaping renown by an encounter with Francisco.—Mass. Spy, Feb. 11: from the Georgia Courier.
1832. See EXFLUNCTIFY. 1833. See HALF HORSE, HALF ALLIGATOR.
1841. That confidence of a western man which induces him to believe that he can “whip his weight in wild cats,” is no vain boast, but the natural consequence of that hardihood, of vigor that comes of their spirit of enterprise.—F. Jackson, ‘A Week in Wall Street,’ p. 46 (N.Y.).
1843. See UNIVERSAL.
1852. See HALF HORSE, HALF ALLIGATOR.
1852. As long as I can whip my weight in catamounts or bar, I’ll never gin in that thar was less than a hundred and fifty on ’em.—H. C. Watson, ‘Nights in a Block-house,’ p. 20 (Phila.).
