Touch Not the Cat, But a Glove
Touch Not the Cat, But a Glove
This is a motto belonging to the family of MacIntosh, in the north of Scotland, who have for their crest a wild cat; and the motto, like many others, directly alludes to the crest. The word but in the Scottish dialect meant without, so that the motto in plain English is “ Touch not the cat without a glove ;” or, in other words, meddle not with a vicious, or noxious animal, without being secure against its efforts to hurt you. - Gent. Mag. 1807.
This is a motto belonging to the family of MacIntosh, in the north of Scotland, who have for their crest a wild cat; and the motto, like many others, directly alludes to the crest. The word but in the Scottish dialect meant without, so that the motto in plain English is “ Touch not the cat without a glove ;” or, in other words, meddle not with a vicious, or noxious animal, without being secure against its efforts to hurt you. - Gent. Mag. 1807.