Cat-Kidney. A game somewhat resembling cricket, played with a wooden 'cat' instead of a ball.—N.W. (Brinkworth.)
Cat's-ice. White ice, ice from which the water has receded.—N. & S.W. (Steeple Ashton, &c.).
'They stood at the edge, cracking the cat's-ice, where the water had shrunk back from the wheel marks, and left the frozen water white and brittle.'—The Story of Dick, ch. xii. p. 153.
Cats'-love. Garden Valerian, on which cats like to roll.—S.W.
*Cats'-paws. Catkins of willow while still young and downy.—S.W. (Deverill.)
Cats'-tails. (1) Equisetum, Horse-tail (Great Estate, ch. ii).—N.W. (2) The catkin of the willow.—N.W. (Lyneham.) (3) The catkin of the hazel.—N.W. (Clyffe Pypard.)
Catch. (1) Of water, to film over, to begin to freeze. Keach, Keatch, Kitch, or Ketch (A.B.C.H.Wr.).—N. & S.W.
'A bright clear moon is credited with causing the water to "catch"—that is, the slender, thread-like spicules form on the surface, and, joining together, finally cover it.'—Wild Life, ch. xx.
Also see Bevis, ch. xl. (2) To grow thick, as melted fat when setting again.—N. & S.W. *(3) 'To catch and rouse,' to collect water, &c.
'In the catch-meadows ... it is necessary to make the most of the water by catching and rousing it as often as possible.'—Agric. of Wilts, ch. xi.