Sc. Obs. ‘A bar or iron for securing a door; a chain drawn across a street for defence’ (Jam.). The exact sense is doubtful.
1650. Row, Hist. Kirk (1842), 507. Also the toun … made catbands of yron to hold off horses, brought the canons … within the toune, &c.
a. 1670. Spalding, Troub. Chas. I. (1829), 80. To make preparations for defence … to big up their own back gates, closes, and ports, have their catbands in readiness.
1671. Acts of Sederunt, 11 Feb. (Jam.). In case they have not sufficient catbands upon the doors of their prisons.
