alley cat


noun

a homeless, usually mongrel, cat that scavenges for food in alleys, streets, etc.

Origin of alley cat

First recorded in 1900–05

British Dictionary definitions for alley cat

alley cat

noun

a homeless cat that roams in back streets

Idioms and Phrases with alley cat

alley cat

A promiscuous woman; also, a person of loose morals. For example, She's constantly picking up men in bars—a real alley cat. This idiom transfers a stray cat that frequents alleys in search of food to a woman of easy virtue, especially a prostitute seeking customers. [Slang; early 1900s]