Rubbish. The word "cat" does not come from Latin or Greek. They adopted it from African languages (kadis, kadiska), possibly from Arabic qitt. About the time they adopted cats, which were not widely known in classical civilizations back when they were "felis". Although it is charming to think that "felis" and "felicity" might be related words, and that cats meant happiness to the ancient Latin-speakers, I don't think it's true.
@BemusedExpression You’re right, ‘fēlēs’ and ‘fēlix’ in Latin are not related. ‘Feles’ is an inherited word pertaining to various wild cats, martens, and such animals; while ‘felix’ is ultimately from the same root as Greek θηλή ‘teat, nipple’ (the ‘fēlix’ or happy one is the infant suckling on his mother’s teat).
As for ‘cat’, you’re absolutely right—it’s certainly nothing to do with the κατά prefix in Greek, nor (I would presume) from ‘catulus’ (whelp/young), but from ‘catus’ (a tomcat).
"chat", "felix", "gato", "gatto", "Katze", "citta", "hirra", "nehko", "kat" all refer to the animal we call "cat", in different languages. I think Fry is right (of course), with "cat" meaning "down" (like in a catacomb). Never knew it was originally used for a dog
I can answer Alan's final question! In the early times of merry olde Englande, the ladies of the night could be heard arguing and fighting within their premises. So much so that the noises were compared to that of cats fighting. So their places of business became known as Cat Houses, and the word 'pussy' descended to their, er, 'laps'.
I just knew Catullus as the name of a Roman poet. 8'D
MiyakoHoshi 1 week ago
Because it wishes it was a dog :3
Redeemedsinner17 1 month ago
Cats expresión re-minds me of M Thatcher.
aTruster 1 month ago
@aTruster u offend cats every wear
kingpharaohtsar 1 month ago
Alan Davies "Why is pussy another word for front bottom?"
eastender86 2 months ago 6
Rubbish. The word "cat" does not come from Latin or Greek. They adopted it from African languages (kadis, kadiska), possibly from Arabic qitt. About the time they adopted cats, which were not widely known in classical civilizations back when they were "felis". Although it is charming to think that "felis" and "felicity" might be related words, and that cats meant happiness to the ancient Latin-speakers, I don't think it's true.
BemusedExpression 3 months ago
@BemusedExpression Linguistics is a shady subject. Not much is ever certain.
Choo69 2 months ago
@BemusedExpression You’re right, ‘fēlēs’ and ‘fēlix’ in Latin are not related. ‘Feles’ is an inherited word pertaining to various wild cats, martens, and such animals; while ‘felix’ is ultimately from the same root as Greek θηλή ‘teat, nipple’ (the ‘fēlix’ or happy one is the infant suckling on his mother’s teat).
As for ‘cat’, you’re absolutely right—it’s certainly nothing to do with the κατά prefix in Greek, nor (I would presume) from ‘catulus’ (whelp/young), but from ‘catus’ (a tomcat).
kokoshnetuna 4 weeks ago
@kokoshnetuna Is this Stephen Fry's Youtube account? :)
SAMagic 6 days ago
@BemusedExpression Source?
SuperSilkyJohnson 3 weeks ago
"chat", "felix", "gato", "gatto", "Katze", "citta", "hirra", "nehko", "kat" all refer to the animal we call "cat", in different languages. I think Fry is right (of course), with "cat" meaning "down" (like in a catacomb). Never knew it was originally used for a dog
XaeeD 3 months ago
What kind of nonsense is that? "Cat" from "catulus"? Jesus.
mmasny 3 months ago
What's the name of the guy sitting next to Clive?
SchwarzeWitwe2 3 months ago
@SchwarzeWitwe2
Mark Steel
fritspas 3 months ago
@SchwarzeWitwe2 I dont know, If only there were some way youtube allowed you to attach more information on to your upload.
SuperSilkyJohnson 3 weeks ago
...I'm no expert, cause I've only been taking Latin for just over a year, but I thought dog was 'canis'
slightlyinsaneFTW 3 months ago
@slightlyinsaneFTW True, but 'catulus' meant 'whelp' as in 'puppy'. In any case, would having two words that described the same thing be so odd?
Angdharagh 3 months ago
@Angdharagh Oh right, okay. And you're right, I guess. There is more than one word for certain things, just I'd never seen it for animals...
slightlyinsaneFTW 3 months ago
they clearly haven't been on the internet
GORET101 4 months ago
Lovely Bully.
Leowen2 4 months ago
Anyone else wanted to hear what Clive was going to say about Rabbits? =(
The505Guys 4 months ago 11
Because its still 5 more days till caturday?
TheIslammiracle 4 months ago
I can answer Alan's final question! In the early times of merry olde Englande, the ladies of the night could be heard arguing and fighting within their premises. So much so that the noises were compared to that of cats fighting. So their places of business became known as Cat Houses, and the word 'pussy' descended to their, er, 'laps'.
wordreet 4 months ago 5
the cat is cross becouse its late for a wedding and is waiting by the car ready to go screaming GET MY DADDY IN THIS MOTAR NOW!
15peewee12 5 months ago
Why are cats so grumpy? They have many-paws.
chasersbf 6 months ago 5
"Generic quote from video"
GingerJoberton 6 months ago 17
OOoH! How I love this man!
DCLsMusic 6 months ago
I may not know the answer but front bottoms are certainly my area of expertise ;)
Ladies.
sjlemmon 7 months ago
The way Alan says "Why is that cat so cross?" is just adorable.
saphronic 7 months ago in playlist QI - Best of 20
I fucking love Alan, he says what were all thinking XD.
and hes damn adorable.
joellynmorgan 8 months ago 13
thanks for posting this. My mother recently got a cat that looks like this one and I wanted to show her this bit of QI.
Punatik 10 months ago
ahahaha "front bottom" i love alan
LozE89 11 months ago 271
"It's not my area of expertise."
KatarinaLehotska 1 year ago 569