Pussycat
/ˈpʊs.i.kæt/noun
A cat, especially one that is gentle, tame, or affectionate.
Did you know?The first element, pussy, has long been a call-name for a cat in English, and its exact origin is uncertain, which is why it feels so old and almost incantatory in the historical record.
Etymological Timeline
Early Modern English
English
puss
“A familiar call-name or pet name for a cat.”
17th Century
English
pussy
“A cat; later also used as an affectionate term for a cat.”
17th–18th Century
English
pussycat
“A cat, especially a tame or affectionate one.”
Modern English
English
pussycat
“A gentle, domesticated cat or an affectionate term for one.”