kit-cat

noun

variants or kit-kat

ˈkitˌkat

1

usually capitalized K&C or both Ks : a member of an early 18th century London club of Whig politicians and men of letters

2

[probably so called from the portraits hung in a dining room of the Kit-cat club whose low ceiling made the smaller size necessary] : a portrait of less than half length but including the hands

some thirty major portraits hanging on the walls, besides kit-cats, heads, sketches … and all the lesser oddities of a collection many years in the making

—Clemence Dane

Word History

Etymology

after Kit (Christopher) Cat or Catling, 18th century English keeper of the tavern where the club originally met

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