catgut

Meanings

1. A cord of great toughness made from the intestines of animals, especially of sheep, used for strings of musical instruments, racquets, sutures etc.
2. The material from which such cords are made.
3. A sort of linen or canvas, with wide interstices.
4. Tephrosia virginiana (goat's rue, devil's shoestring).

Etymology

Possibly an abbreviation of the word cattlegut. Alternatively, it may derive by folk etymology from kitgut or kitstring — the word kit, meaning fiddle, having at some point been confused with the word kit for a young cat.