LL-L "Etymology" 2002.09.19 (01) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 19.SEP.2002 (01) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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From: Anja Meyfarth <AMeyfarth at t-online.de>
Subject: LL-L "Etymology" 2002.09.15 (04) [E]


Hello Lowlanders

Erek Gass wrote:

> This is an easy one, and shews the importance of pop culture.  A very
> popular cartoon cat appeared in American newspapers (I believe it was
around
> the turn of the century, but don't hold me to the year) was named Tom Cat.
> He was SO popular in fact that the term, "tomcat", came quickly to be
> applied to all male house cats.

You are positive that the word isn`t older than that? I first found it in an
irish fairy tale. That might have been influenced but I consider it rather
unlikely. To call a male cat "Tom Cat" might have the reason that male cats
were
called tomcats already.
And why did the military airplanes get this name?

Greetings,

Anja Meyfarth

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