catamaran n also cat. The catamaran, 'fire-ship or instrument of naval warfare' (OED ~ 2 1804-), was reported in England six years before the term appeared in print in Nfld, connected with the farms in St John's owned by military and naval officers. Catamaran 'sledge' is reported in New Zealand from 1902 and cat from 1951 (Harry Orsman, personal commun).
   1 1811 Royal Gazette 14 Nov For sale...3 catamarans Best's Farm. 1903 Nfld Qtly iii (3), 5 Three or four 'cat' loads [of birch] could easily be secured in one winter's day by starting for the 'woods' before daylight. [1928] 1982 BURKE (ed Kirwin) 69 "Don't You remember the Night": And the sport that we had on them nights, Maggie,/On Jim Tracey's old catamaran.

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