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Many people say a cat that is purring has it's "motor running". They call it's purr-maker a motor.
What the heck did people call it before engines were invented?
I can only think of purr box, so yes, the options are limited. Add any terms you use in the comments!!
| Purr box. | 12 | |
| Other term (comment please!!) | 5 |
I've never heard of the term "cat's motor." It's probably not as common as you think. The title made me think of some catpowered carriage.
I think its a purrsonal question and the cat would purrfer you not asking
Nothing I'd guess. People probably only made the link when engines were invented (or perhaps only modern engines that can idle quietly).
I clicked on this post JUST to figure out what the hell a cat's motor is.
And now I know.
It wasn't as dirty as I was hoping for. Next time, make it dirtier.
Motors were invented before cats so this has never been an issue. Next question.
I guess they would say "Purring". The "Cat's Motor" sounds familiar, but I figured that it would only be for cars.
They probably just said that the cat is purring. Makes sense to me! I have never heard of the "cats motor purring"
The word 'purr' is an imitative word, that has been in use since at least 1601.
Purring is still not fully understood, but it is probably a modified roar. All cats (Family: Felidae) and two species of genets (Genus: genetta) purr, using a strict definition.
Purring is most pronounced in the Genus: Felis.
The domestic cat (Felis catus), is descended from the African Wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica) and was first domesticated about 8,000 BCE, in the Middle East.
Most people probably used (and still use) an imitative sound or word to describe a cat's purr, depending on the language spoken.
The word 'engine' is derived from the Latin word for 'ingenious' (ingeniosus). Various types of engines have been in use since antiquity, some of which might have made a similar noise to a cat purring.
The word 'motor', is often incorrectly used to describe an internal combustion engine. (First used in the 1800's during the early development of internal combustion engines, to differentiate them from earlier steam engines).
A 'motor' is an electric device (electric motor), that should not make a purring noise if it is in proper working order.