catch v For phr in sense 1: OED ~ v 31 b (1886); EDD v 5 W So D; DC ~ v (Nfld: 1920), ~ over Nfld (1878-).
   1 Phr catch out: to deplete the fish stock of a pond or stream; fish out.
   T 58/64-64 How much trout was there? Never caught out, never fished out—thousands, I'd say. 1977 RUSSELL 74 'I lost interest in troutin' years ago.' 'How come?' said I. 'They all got caught out,' said he.
   catch (over): of a body of water: to begin to freeze; to form a thin layer of ice; by extension, to freeze (the flesh) or be frozen.
   1878 North Star 30 Mar The bay here was caught over last week, and a string of 'slob' made its appearance across the mouth, but the heavy sea of Thursday broke it all up. [DC] 1895 PROWSE 452-3 There was a channel just caught over, which the Canadian did not see, and down he went; as he rose the boys, seven in number, came to the edge [of the ice] and successfully copied over the Canadian's head and shoulders. 1920 GRENFELL & SPALDING 125 I 'caught' both my cheeks on the way, or in common parlance I froze them. 1963 Daily News 8 Jan, p. 3 Walking ahead of the others [they] stepped on a 'spring hole' which had caught over in Sunday night's frost. T 141/68-65² Sometimes you couldn't cross [the river]. The lop'd break up the ice, the wind would, but she'd catch over again. P 127-76 One could not say 'the water is starting to catch,' rather one says 'starting to catch over.'
   2 Comb catching thirds: children's chasing game.
   T 168-65 They run after that third one, and if they catch him before he gets to another third, he's still out in the middle. But if they can't catch him, the other fellow gets the third and that one gets in the middle. Catchin' thirds.

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