Definition

1. Noun:
   • A strong cord made from the dried and twisted intestines of animals, especially sheep, used for surgical sutures and for the strings of musical instruments. This is the primary meaning, referring to a specific type of material.
   • A perennial subshrub of eastern North America (Tephrosia virginiana), also known as goat's rue. This is a secondary, botanical meaning for a specific plant.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Material):
  • The surgeon used catgut to stitch the internal wound.
  • Before synthetic strings, many violins used catgut for their strings.
• Noun (Plant):
  • The field was dotted with the yellow and pink flowers of catgut.

Advanced Usage

• Historical/Technical Context: The term is often used in historical or specialized contexts (surgery, luthiery, historical textiles) as modern alternatives (like synthetic absorbable sutures or nylon strings) are now common.
  • Early tennis rackets were strung with catgut.

Variants and Related Words

• Surgical gut: A more formal or technical synonym for catgut used in medicine.
• Tephrosia virginiana: The scientific name for the plant also called catgut or goat's rue.

Synonyms

• For the cord: gut, surgical gut.
• For the plant: goat's rue, devil's shoestring.

Notes on Meaning

• Despite the name, catgut is not made from cats. It is traditionally made from the intestines of sheep or other livestock.
• The botanical meaning is specific to a particular plant and is less common in general usage than the material meaning.

Noun

1. a strong cord made from the intestines of sheep and used in surgery
2. perennial subshrub of eastern North America having downy leaves yellowish and rose flowers and; source of rotenone