Definition

A type of rope that is used to lift an anchor onto a ship's cathead.

Example

The sailor used the catfall to hoist the anchor back on board.

Conversation

I was reading about sailing the other day.

Oh really? Did you come across anything interesting?

Yeah, they mentioned something called a catfall used for hoisting the anchor.

That sounds cool! I had no idea there were so many specialized terms in sailing.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

The word 'catfall' is formed from 'cat' (from Old English 'catt', meaning a domesticated feline) and 'fall' (from Old English 'feallan', meaning to drop or descend). The term 'catfall' refers to the act of a cat falling or the phenomenon of a cat's ability to fall without injury due to its reflexes.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'cat' that 'falls' — this helps you remember that 'catfall' describes a cat's descent.

Visually Confused Words