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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