E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Catgut.
A contracted form of cattlegut, especially sheep. Another form is catling-gut, i.e. cattle-ing gut. In Gen. xxx. 40 we read that Jacob did separate “his own flocks by themselves, and put them not unto Laban’s cattle [i.e. sheep].” Again, in xxxi. 9, Jacob said, “God hath taken away the cattle [sheep and lambs] of your father, and given them to me;” and verse 43 he says, “These cattle [sheep and lambs] are my cattle.”
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Musical strings never, were made from the gut of a cat.
Musical strings never, were made from the gut of a cat.
