catamaran n also cat [phonetics unavailable]. DC ~ n 2 a, b Nfld (1819-); cp OED catamountain 2 'wild man' (1616-); catamaran 1 'raft' (from Tamil; quots. from East and West Indies, South America [STANFORD 1673-]), 3 'cross-grained person' [STANFORD 1779-]; catmarant 'wooden box set on a plank used for hauling fish on mudflats' (Guyana, reported by S R R Allsopp, personal commun., 1979). See also DOG¹ n: DOG-CAT, HAND-CAT.
   1 Sled with stout wooden runners curved up in front and with a vertical stick, or 'horn,' at each corner, hauled in the winter by dogs, horse or man, used esp for carting wood and other heavy loads, but also for pleasure; SLIDE n.
   1810 Gazette 12 July For sale ... 3 catamarans. 1819 ANSPACH 383 [Sledges, or catamarans] are formed of two pieces of plank shoed underneath with hoops of iron or of hard wood, joined by thick pieces from two feet to two and a half feet in length, and supporting four strong long knees, two at each end, fastened in an opposite direction. [1820] 1915 HOWLEY 122 We were until the 29th employed repairing the sledges which had become much shattered, and others totally useless were replaced with catamarans. 1846 TOCQUE 128 The firewood is drawn from the interior over the snow in slides and catamarans or sledges. [1847] 1877 TUCKER 63 The absence of snow ... prevents their going into the woods with their 'cats' and dogs to procure fuel. 1868 HOWLEY MS Reminiscences 52 He comes up here every fall cuts and makes the hay and then piles it in stacks till the river freezes over, when he hauls it down on [catamaran]. [1892] 1896 Consolidated Statutes of Nfld 282 All carriages, carts, waggons, catamarans, sleighs, and other vehicles, shall, by the person in charge of same... 1900 Evening Telegram 29 Jan [The boy who] lived with his grandmother in Hoylestown, was accidentally killed near the Herald office on Saturday evening last. He was playing around the office while waiting for his newspapers. A large slide or catamaran ran him over. 1931 BYRNES 99 In making a sharp turn, the catamaran upsets, and you and your crew are shot into a bank of fleecy snow, from which all emerge, unhurt and happy, for your good old Newfoundland 'Cat' has licked the arrogant 'Yankee Clipper.' T 43/7- 64 The hand slide, or the dog slide, as some people would refer to it, was also called a catamaran, and there's another type called a komatik. C 70-15 The men fastened a rope called a 'hauling rope' to the front or 'forward' beam of the catamaran and guided the load of wood with a stick jutting out called a 'steering stick.' C 71-120 Cat shoes are the [metal] runners under a catamaran. 1973 PINSENT 138 That's one, two, three, four, five trees. The catamaran won't hold any more than that.
   2 Horse-drawn sleigh for winter use, passengers facing the side of the vehicle; SIDE SLEIGH.
   1895 J A Folklore viii, 38 ~ When side sleighs were first introduced, [this term was] applied to them. M 71-78 Social outings were by express, a wagon with a raised seat, and by a catamaran in winter.

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