a strong cord made from the dried intestines of sheep and other animals that is used for stringing certain musical instruments and sports rackets, and, when sterilized, as surgical ligatures
Often shortened to: gut
catgut in American English
(ˈkætˌgʌt)
noun
a tough string or thread usually made from the dried intestines of sheep, horses, etc. and used for surgicalsutures, for stringing tennis rackets, etc.
Word origin
parallel with Du kattedarm, but ? altered by assoc. with cat1 < kit gut < obs. kit, fiddle (< ? cithara) + gut