ki tse
B2Informal to neutral.
Definition
Meaning
a young domestic cat; a pet name for a cat.
A pool of money contributed to by a group and used for a common purpose, especially in games or communal expenses.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The primary meaning is a young cat or a familiar name for a cat. The 'pool of money' sense is derived from the slang term for the pot in poker and other gambling games.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both meanings are common in both dialects. The word 'kitty-corner' (diagonally opposite) is predominantly American, spelled 'catty-corner' in British English.
Connotations
Informal, often affectionate for the cat meaning. Slightly old-fashioned or playful for the money sense.
Frequency
Highly frequent as the cat name. The money sense is common in social contexts (e.g., office tea kitty).
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
have + a kittyput money in/into + the kittytake money from + the kittylook after + the kittyVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “kitty-corner (US) / catty-corner (UK)”
- “the kitty is empty”
- “feed the kitty”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Informal term for a small communal fund for office supplies or social events.
Academic
Rare, except in specific historical or sociological studies of language or social groups.
Everyday
Very common for referring to pet cats and informal shared money pools.
Technical
Not used in formal technical contexts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- We all put £5 into the tea kitty.
- Our kitty loves chasing laser pointers.
American English
- Let's start a kitty for the pizza order.
- The neighbour's kitty is always in our yard.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Look at the little kitty!
- I have a black and white kitty.
- We keep a kitty in the office for milk and biscuits.
- My kitty sleeps on my bed every night.
- After everyone contributed, the kitty was substantial enough to buy a farewell gift.
- She rescued the stray kitty from the tree.
- The political party's war chest, or 'kitty', was significantly depleted after the costly campaign.
- The idiom 'kitty-corner' describes the diagonal relationship between two intersections.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a little KITten being called a cute KITTY.
Conceptual Metaphor
MONEY IS A LIVING THING (that needs to be fed).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'кит' (whale). The Russian word 'котик' is a close equivalent for the cat meaning.
- The money sense has no direct single-word Russian equivalent; translate as 'общая касса', 'банк' (in games).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'kitty' to mean a large, adult wild cat (e.g., tiger).
- Using the money sense in formal financial writing.
- Spelling as 'kiddy' (which means child).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'kitty' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'kitty' is a general, gender-neutral term for a cat, especially a young or pet cat.
'Kitten' specifically refers to a very young cat. 'Kitty' can be used for cats of any age, often as a pet name, and also has the unrelated 'money pool' meaning.
It is not recommended. Use 'cat', 'kitten', or 'fund'/'pool' instead, depending on the intended meaning.
It originates from 19th-century slang, possibly from 'kit' meaning a collection of necessary items, or directly from the 'kit' in 'kitty' as a container for stakes in a game.