cath·er·ine wheel \ˈkath(ə)rə̇n-\noun Usage: often capitalized C Etymology: after St. Catherine of Alexandria died ab 307 Christian martyr; from the attempt made to torture her on a spiked wheel 1. a.alsocatharine wheel: a wheel with spikes projecting from the rim b.: a representation of such a wheel used especially in heraldry 2.: wheel window 3.: pinwheel 2b 4.: cartwheel 2a