cat's-eye

noun

plural cat's-eyes
1
: any of various gems (such as a chrysoberyl or a chalcedony) exhibiting opalescent reflections from within
2
: a marble with eyelike concentric circles

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cat's-eye was circa 1599

Dictionary Entries Near cat's-eye

Cite this Entry

“Cat's-eye.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cat%27s-eye. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

cat's-eye

noun
ˈkats-ˌī
: any of various gems (as chalcedony) with a changeable luster suggestive of reflections from the eye of a cat

More from Merriam-Webster on cat's-eye

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!