Kitty
/ˈkɪt.i/noun
An informal or affectionate term for a cat, and sometimes a small kitten.
Did you know?“Kitty” is probably a pet form influenced by “kitten,” while cats themselves became entangled with witchcraft and supernatural beliefs in medieval and early modern Europe.
Etymological Timeline
Late Antiquity
Latin
cattus
“Cat; a late Latin form that spread widely through European languages.”
Old North French
Old French
caton
“Small cat or kitten; a diminutive form related to the European cat-word family.”
14th Century
Middle English
kitoun
“Kitten; a young cat.”
17th Century
English
kitty
“An affectionate name for a cat or kitten, likely shaped by “kitten” and pet-name formation.”
Modern English
English
kitty
“An informal term for a cat, often used affectionately.”