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Question
#8480. CLC
asks:
Why are dogs called dogs, and cats called cats?
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Moleman
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The English word cat dates from before 900 A.D. - comes from the Old English words: catt (male) and catte (female). The word comes from Old High-German / Old Norse words. The English word dog comes from before 1050 A.D. - again from the Old English word docga.
Dec 06 00, 1:54 PM
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Arpeggionist 
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Actually, the words come from far earlier. The word cat originated from the vulgar Latin "catus" (Italian "cato", Spanish "gato"). The word "dog" comes from some Germanic origin if I'm not mistaken.
Jul 30 08, 3:42 PM
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