# kat

/ˈkæt/ (US) · /kˈæt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/kat
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 2. ancient unit of weight

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a very old unit used in ancient Egypt to weigh things.

For teachers: an ancient Egyptian unit of mass, historically equivalent to approximately 9.1 grams or one-tenth of a deben.

- The museum display explained how many kat of gold were used to make the statue.
- Archaeologists found stone weights marked with their value in kat, providing insight into the commercial standards of the New Kingdom.

### 3. a person's name

noun · CEFR A2 · Informal

a short way of saying the name Katherine or Katharine.

For teachers: a diminutive or hypocoristic form of the female given name Katherine.

- Everyone at the office calls her Kat instead of Katherine.
- Although her legal documents state Katherine, she has preferred the shortened Kat since her university days.

## Examples

- In some cultures, people chew kat socially in the afternoons.
- The leaves of the kat plant must be consumed while fresh to maintain their potency as a stimulant.
- The trade of kat is a significant part of the local economy in Ethiopia and Yemen, despite international debates regarding its legal status and health impacts.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.