A pet-form of the female name Katherine; now also used as a baptismal name. Also, a dialect name for several species of finches, as the brambling, hawfinch and goldfinch.
1773. Barrington, in Phil. Trans., LXIII. 283, note. The London bird-catchers also sell … the yellow hammer, twite and brambling [note, They call this bird a kate] as singing birds.
1802–33. G. Montagu, Ornith. Dict. (ed. Rennie), 53. Mountain Finch … (Provincial) Kate.
1885. Swainson, Prov. Names Birds, 58. In the north, young goldfinches are called Grey Kates or Pates.
