catgut

views updated Jun 08 2018

cat·gut / ˈkatˌgət/ • n. a material used for the strings of musical instruments and for surgical sutures, made of the dried twisted intestines of sheep or horses, but not cats.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

catgut

views updated May 11 2018

catgut dried intestines of sheep, etc. used for the strings of musical instruments. XVI. f. CAT + GUT; the reason for the use of cat is unkn.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

catgut

views updated May 23 2018

catgut (kat-gut) n. a natural fibrous material prepared from the tissues of animals, usually from sheep intestines, formerly widely used to sew up wounds and tie off blood vessels during surgery. The catgut gradually dissolves and is absorbed by the tissues, so that the stitches do not have to be removed later.

A Dictionary of Nursing

More From encyclopedia.com

About this article

catgut

All Sources -
Updated Aug 24 2016 About encyclopedia.com content Print Topic

You Might Also Like