Quote: sootyj @ April 13 2013, 10:55 AM BSThttp://www.smosh.com/smosh-pit/photos/22-ugliest-cats-world
Cats!!!!! Page 78
Quote: zooo @ April 13 2013, 10:47 AM BSTIt's such a horrible phrase! But I don't know where it comes from either.
Probably a cat o' nine tails or something, not even to do with actual cats, I expect.
And you would be right zooo, its an old navy thing.
A whip, first with three, then with six, and lastly with nine lashes, used for punishing offenders, and briefly called a cat. Lilburn was scourged, in 1637, with a whip having only three lashes, but there were twenty knots in each tail, and, as he received a lash every three paces between the Fleet and Old Palace Yard. Cook says that 60,000 stripes were inflicted. Titus Oates was scourged, in the reign of James II., with a cat having six lashes, and, between Newgate and Tyburn, received as many as 17,000 lashes. The cat-o'-nine-tails once used in the British army and navy is no longer employed there, but garotters and some other offenders are still scourged. Probably the punishment was first used on board ship, where ropes would be handy, and several ropes are called cats, as "cat-harpings," for bracing the shrouds, "cat-falls," which pass over the cat-head and communicate with the cat-block, etc. The French martinet (q.v.) had twelve leather thongs.
But does it now mean that a room is big or small?
Ouch.
Quote: Gordon Bennett @ April 14 2013, 9:58 PM BSTBut does it now mean that a room is big or small?
No matter how big the room is, scourging will get ya, especially the multi-thong type.
Quote: Nigel Ball @ April 14 2013, 10:03 PM BSTNo matter how big the room is, scourging will get ya, especially the multi-thong type.
They call it "cat" but after you got whipped you look like a zebra.
Quote: Nigel Ball @ April 14 2013, 9:54 PM BSTAnd you would be right zooo, its an old navy thing.
A whip, first with three, then with six, and lastly with nine lashes, used for punishing offenders, and briefly called a cat. Lilburn was scourged, in 1637, with a whip having only three lashes, but there were twenty knots in each tail, and, as he received a lash every three paces between the Fleet and Old Palace Yard. Cook says that 60,000 stripes were inflicted. Titus Oates was scourged, in the reign of James II., with a cat having six lashes, and, between Newgate and Tyburn, received as many as 17,000 lashes. The cat-o'-nine-tails once used in the British army and navy is no longer employed there, but garotters and some other offenders are still scourged. Probably the punishment was first used on board ship, where ropes would be handy, and several ropes are called cats, as "cat-harpings," for bracing the shrouds, "cat-falls," which pass over the cat-head and communicate with the cat-block, etc. The French martinet (q.v.) had twelve leather thongs.
And you'd be wrong
It's a myth
The phrase was in common use before the cat-o'-nine tails was even invented
You people really need to watch QI more carefully ...
Quote: Nigel Ball @ April 14 2013, 9:54 PM BSTAnd you would be right zooo, its an old navy thing.
A whip, first with three, then with six, and lastly with nine lashes, used for punishing offenders, and briefly called a cat. Lilburn was scourged, in 1637, with a whip having only three lashes, but there were twenty knots in each tail, and, as he received a lash every three paces between the Fleet and Old Palace Yard. Cook says that 60,000 stripes were inflicted. Titus Oates was scourged, in the reign of James II., with a cat having six lashes, and, between Newgate and Tyburn, received as many as 17,000 lashes. The cat-o'-nine-tails once used in the British army and navy is no longer employed there, but garotters and some other offenders are still scourged. Probably the punishment was first used on board ship, where ropes would be handy, and several ropes are called cats, as "cat-harpings," for bracing the shrouds, "cat-falls," which pass over the cat-head and communicate with the cat-block, etc. The French martinet (q.v.) had twelve leather thongs.
MMM, yes, but Stephen Fry on one of the QI programs said that "room to swing a cat" had nothing to do with the "cat of nine tails", but was literally about swinging a real cat, but it was probably only a figure of speech anyway.
And what about 'pissed as a newt'? Since when did newts drink alcohol?
Quote: keewik @ April 15 2013, 7:02 PM BSTAnd what about 'pissed as a newt'? Since when did newts drink alcohol?
I think that just refers to the way newts walk; weaving from side to side.
I love cats!!!! My cats are called Phoebe and Spongebob.
Googling favours the walking gait of the newt resembling someone who has imbibed somewhat heavily.
Anyway, back to the matter in hand . . .
Don't Blink: