Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

catkin

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.59 in modern English

Syllables
catkin
IPA
12
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
1
Syllables
6
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A type of inflorescence, consisting of an axis with many unisexual apetalous flowers along its sides, as in the willow and poplar.

Etymology

From Middle Dutch katteken (“catkin”, literally “little cat”). So named due to the resemblance of lengthier kinds to a kitten's tail, or, perhaps more probably, the fine fur found on some catkins (compare the pictures). Cognate with German Kätzchen, modern Dutch katje; compare French chaton (“kitten”; “catkin”). By surface analysis, cat + -kin.

Word Breakdown

Inflected Forms

catkins (plural)

Derived Forms

catkinlike

Frequently Paired Words

raceme spike

Synonyms

ament amentum

Questions

What does catkin mean?
A type of inflorescence, consisting of an axis with many unisexual apetalous flowers along its sides, as in the willow and poplar.
Where does catkin come from?
From Middle Dutch katteken (“catkin”, literally “little cat”). So named due to the resemblance of lengthier kinds to a kitten's tail, or, perhaps more probably, the fine fur found on some catkins (compare the pictures). Cognate with German Kätzchen, modern Dutch katje; compare French chaton (“kitten”; “catkin”). By surface analysis, cat + -kin.

How to pronounce catkin

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “catkin”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “catkin”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “catkin” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.