[f. as prec. + -ING2.]
1. gen. That catches, in various senses; see the vb.
1413. Lydg., Pylgr. Sowle, II. xlv. (1859), 51. Nayles hoked, and catchyng.
c. 1450. Merlin, 106. Couetouse and cacchynge.
1594. Bp. King, Jonas (1618), 473. It is as fire to flaxe, an easie and welcome perswasion to busie & catching natures.
1684. T. Burnet, Th. Earth, II. 66. Still more catching and more combustible.
1806–7. J. Beresford, Miseries Hum. Life, VI. (1826), 35. A charming morsel of the picturesque … delicious catching lights on the principal objects.
2. spec. Of diseases: Liable to be communicated from one person to another, infectious. Also fig.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., I. i. 186. Sicknesse is catching.
1662. Fuller, Worthies, Warwick-Sh., 124. Bad Latin was a catching disease in that age.
1713. Steele, Guardian, No. 24, ¶ 25. The virtues of men are catching as well as their vices.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., III. VI. iii. (L.). The assassin mood proves catching.
1885. Law Times, LXXIX. 161/2. The mare was suffering from no catching disease.
3. In an uncertain or precarious state.
c. 1611. Chapman, Iliad, XXI. Fields that haue been long time cloide With catching weather.
a. 1670. Hacket, Abp. Williams, I. (1692), 114. Peace between the two Kingdoms was but in a doubtful, and catching Condition.
1768–74. Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1852), II. 93. When … frequent showers double his charges, his labour, his care … in a catching harvest.
1832. Miss Mitford, Village, Ser. V. (1863), 473. The weather … was, on the contrary, of that description which is termed ‘catching.’
4. fig. Entrapping; deceptive, ‘catchy.’
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1638), 175. What to answer him vnto this his catching question.
1658–9. Burton’s Diary (1828), III. 334. This is an exceeding catching question.
1880. Macalpin, Money-lenders, 289. Catching bargains with ‘expectant heirs’ are set aside.
5. That catches the eye, the fancy, etc.; attractive, captivating, ‘taking.’
1654. Burton’s Diary (1828), I. Introd. 26. These words were extremely catching to the generality of the House.
1816. Keatinge, Trav., II. 126. The objects most catching to the eye of the navigator.
Hence Catchingness, catching quality.
1655. Fuller, Hist. Camb., 37. Carelesness of coals and candles, catchingness of Papers.
1884. Spectator, No. 2903. 221. The irresistible catchingness of Gay’s ballads.
