The origins of the expression "having a cat in your throat" date back to the 19th century.
At the time, a "maton" referred to "a pile of hair that can obstruct orifices".
Over the years, the word has become "tomcat", then "cat".
Every day, in
Historically yours
with
Matthieu Noël, Stéphane Bern returns to the unusual origin of a word, an expression or a notion.
On Monday, the host decided to take an interest in the expression "having a cat in your throat", which refers to being hoarse.
"Where does that expression come from? I don't know. But when does it date then? I know. At the end of the 11th century, the word 'maton' referred to curdled milk, but also milk that did not would be more than lumps. At the beginning of the 19th century, the meaning of 'maton' evolves and designates 'a mass of wool, of hair, which can obstruct orifices'. An expression is then born: 'To have a maton in the throat' .
The English prefer to speak of a frog
Over the years, the 'maton' became 'tomcat', which then became 'cat'.
Then the phrase finally became 'having a cat in your throat'.
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But what about abroad?
Very strangely, our English friends who call us 'Froggies' say 'to have a frog in one's throat': 'to have a frog in one's throat'.
In Portugal, we say: 'look like a choked cat'.
Let's leave with this quote from Cicero: 'Speakers raise their voices when they run out of arguments.' "