catgut: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Specialised/Technical, Archaic
Quick answer
What does “catgut” mean?
A tough cord made from the dried and twisted intestines of animals (especially sheep or horses), historically used for surgical sutures and the strings of musical instruments.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A tough cord made from the dried and twisted intestines of animals (especially sheep or horses), historically used for surgical sutures and the strings of musical instruments.
Historically, a type of strong, thin cord made from processed animal intestines; the term is also used metaphorically to denote something tough, resilient, or crude.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage; the term is equally specialised in both varieties.
Connotations
Carries historical/technical connotations. May evoke images of early surgery, string instruments, or tennis rackets.
Frequency
Extremely low-frequency in everyday language. Found almost exclusively in historical texts, specialised medical histories, or discussions of early instrument making.
Grammar
How to Use “catgut” in a Sentence
[material] made from catgut[instrument] strung with catgutsuture [wound] with catgutVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “catgut” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The catgut ligature was standard in the 19th century.
American English
- He restored the violin with catgut strings.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical papers on medicine or musicology.
Everyday
Virtually never used; would be considered an obscure term.
Technical
Used in historical contexts within medical and musical instrument literature to describe specific materials.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “catgut”
- Believing it is made from cats.
- Using it in modern contexts (e.g., 'The surgeon used catgut' would be historically accurate for a period piece, but incorrect for modern medicine).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The name is misleading. It is traditionally made from the cleaned and twisted intestines of sheep, goats, or horses. The origin of the word 'cat' is uncertain.
Very rarely. It has been almost entirely replaced by superior synthetic absorbable sutures which cause less tissue reaction and have more predictable absorption rates.
Most likely in historical novels, medical history texts, or in discussions among musicians who use period instruments (like Baroque violins) which are strung with gut strings.
It can provoke a significant inflammatory reaction in tissue, its strength degrades unpredictably, and it is sensitive to humidity and temperature changes, making it unreliable compared to modern materials.
A tough cord made from the dried and twisted intestines of animals (especially sheep or horses), historically used for surgical sutures and the strings of musical instruments.
Catgut is usually specialised/technical, archaic in register.
Catgut: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkatɡʌt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkætˌɡʌt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[no common idioms]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A CAT plays a GUT-tar (guitar) with strings made from CATGUT. (Reminds you it's for strings, though not from cats.)
Conceptual Metaphor
RESILIENCE IS ANIMAL FIBRE (e.g., 'tough as old catgut').
Practice
Quiz
What is 'catgut' primarily made from?