kit-cat
Definition
- Noun:
- A member of the Kit-Cat Club: "kit-cat" refers to a member of the Kit-Cat Club, a famous 18th-century English political and literary club associated with the Whig party.
- A portrait of a specific size: "kit-cat" also denotes a portrait that is half-length, typically showing the sitter's hands (often resting on a table or visible in the foreground), a style popularized by the club's portraits.
Usage Examples
- Noun (member):
- He was a prominent kit-cat, known for his political influence in London. (He was a member of the Kit-Cat Club, a group of Whig supporters.)
- Noun (portrait):
- The gallery displayed a kit-cat of the famous author, showing his hands resting on a book. (A half-length portrait with visible hands.)
Advanced Usage
- "Kit-cat portrait": a specific artistic term for a portrait measuring approximately 36 by 28 inches, showing the sitter from the knees up (or half-length with hands).
- The artist specialized in kit-cat portraits for wealthy patrons. (He painted half-length portraits with visible hands.)
Variants and Related Words
- Kit-Cat Club (proper noun): the historical club itself.
- The Kit-Cat Club met regularly at a tavern in London. (The Whig political and literary society.)
Synonyms
- Whig supporter: a member of the Whig political party (historical context).
- Half-length portrait: a portrait showing the upper half of the body.
Related Idioms
- No common idioms: "kit-cat" is a specialized historical term with no idiomatic uses in modern English.