Căt's'-păw, n.
n. 1. (Naut.) (a.) A light air, perceived in a calm by a rippling of the surface of the water. (b.) A particular turn in the bight of a rope, made to hook a tackle on.
Sense 2. A dupe; the instrument which another uses to accomplish his purposes.
☞ Derived from the fable of the monkey who used the paws of the cat to draw the roasting chestnuts out of the fire.