Tomcat
/ˈtɒm.kæt/noun
A male domestic cat.
Did you know?“Tom” became a generic male name in English, and by the 18th century it was already being used for a male cat—so the word’s power comes from human naming, not ancient myth.
Etymological Timeline
Middle English
English
Tom
“A common male personal name, later used generically for an unspecified man.”
Early Modern English
English
tom cat
“A male cat, with tom used as a male-name label.”
18th Century
English
tomcat
“A male cat, especially an unneutered one.”
Modern English
English
tomcat
“A male domestic cat.”