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Touch Not The Cat But The Glove

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Bob Clarke

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Sep 11, 1996, 3:00:00 AM9/11/96
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Can someone please explain the motto, "Touch Not The Cat But The Glove"?

Also is it from the Clan Chattan?

--
James Clarke Chief Engineer, Simpson-James Guitar Company
Check Out Our Home Page! http://www.connix.com/~sjguitar
The Guitar Building and The Rec.Music.Makers.Builders FAQs
are on-line.

NutmegGA

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Sep 11, 1996, 3:00:00 AM9/11/96
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sjgu...@comet.connix.com (Bob Clarke) wrote: Can someone please explain

the motto, "Touch Not The Cat But The Glove"?

Also is it from the Clan Chattan?

------------------------------------------------

No, it's Clan MacPherson.

In plain English it would be "Don't Touch the Cat Unless You're Wearing
Gloves," or, more appropriately, "Don't Mess With Us Unless Your Pretty
Well Protected."

Megan

John Groseclose

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Sep 11, 1996, 3:00:00 AM9/11/96
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In article <5152e4$o...@beast.connix.com>, sjgu...@comet.connix.com (Bob
Clarke) wrote:

> Can someone please explain the motto, "Touch Not The Cat But The Glove"?
>
> Also is it from the Clan Chattan?

Um, you may have this just a wee bit wrong... The one I've seen is "Touch
Not the Cat But Agloved", meaning it's not wise to play with kitty without
gloves, since kitty has sharp claws, teeth, and a nasty attitude...
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Chris Dauten & Michelle Reeder-Dauten

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Sep 11, 1996, 3:00:00 AM9/11/96
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> Can someone please explain the motto, "Touch Not The Cat But The
>Glove"? Also is it from the Clan Chattan?Despite what someone else has told you, you have quoted the motto
correctly. It is the motto for Clan Mackintosh as well as Clan Chattan
(in fact, the two clans' crests are identical, except that the cat in the
Chattan crest is facing forward, and has it's head turned toward you
in the Mackintosh). The reason they are so similar is that the Clan
Chattan is a confederation of many clans, one of which is Mackintosh.
You'll find that most of the clans of the Clan Chattan Confederation have
very similar crests. The motto basically warns others that offending you
would be unwise unless they are very sure of themselves.
Regards,
Chris
--
Chris Dauten & Michelle Reeder-Dauten
cda...@idir.net
http://www.idir.net/~cdauten/

Loudon Briggs

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Sep 12, 1996, 3:00:00 AM9/12/96
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nutm...@aol.com (NutmegGA) wrote:

>sjgu...@comet.connix.com (Bob Clarke) wrote: Can someone please explain


>the motto, "Touch Not The Cat But The Glove"?

>Also is it from the Clan Chattan?
>------------------------------------------------

>No, it's Clan MacPherson.

>In plain English it would be "Don't Touch the Cat Unless You're Wearing
>Gloves," or, more appropriately, "Don't Mess With Us Unless Your Pretty
>Well Protected."

>Megan

Actually, that motto, with slight variations, is used by Clan Chattan
as well as the two principal families of that confederation, Clan
Macpherson and Clan Mackintosh.

--
Loudon Briggs (lar...@indirect.com Phoenix, Arizona, USA)


NutmegGA

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Sep 12, 1996, 3:00:00 AM9/12/96
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You wrote: Despite what someone else has told you, you have quoted the
motto
correctly.
------------------------------------------------

It was I who posted about the motto. I *did not* tell him that he
misquoted the motto; I told him what the motto would be in "plain English"
and what the motto, essentially, meant.

It is indeed the motto of Clan MacPherson, but I was not aware that it is
also the motto of Mackintosh and Chattan. I wonder how usual it is for
clans to ahve the same motto?

Megan

Chris Engel

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Sep 14, 1996, 3:00:00 AM9/14/96
to

This motto dates from the days when rabies was prevelent across the whole
of Scotland and it is a warning not to handle wild cats without first
donning surgical or armoured gloves.

The true meaning has been romanticised over the centuries and the
classical interpretation is that a cat may look soft and attractive but
it has the sharp claws of a witch. Hence the wearing of gloves.

CJ

Sandy & Calum Johnston

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Sep 15, 1996, 3:00:00 AM9/15/96
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In article <516eo5$h...@newsbf02.news.aol.com>, nutm...@aol.com (NutmegGA)
wrote:

> sjgu...@comet.connix.com (Bob Clarke) wrote: Can someone please explain
> the motto, "Touch Not The Cat But The Glove"?
>
> Also is it from the Clan Chattan?
> ------------------------------------------------
>
> No, it's Clan MacPherson.
>


My mother-in-law is here- she is from Scotland and she states that it is
from Clan Chattan - which includes many Clans such as MacIntosh,Macpherson
etc. The motto is derived from the
Latin and under the thistle stating "nemo me impune lacessit"
translation:" no one sits on me with impunity" and "touch not the cat but
the glove" can also be translated as meaning "protect yourself at all
times"

so sayeth the Scot!!!!!!

hope this helps
Sandy Johnston- and her mom in law- Rae MacIntosh Johnston

A Brignall

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Sep 19, 1996, 3:00:00 AM9/19/96
to

In article <51i6l5$q...@apollo.isisnet.com>, ca...@ra.isisnet.com (Sandy & Calum Johnston) writes:

|> My mother-in-law is here- she is from Scotland and she states that it is
|> from Clan Chattan - which includes many Clans such as MacIntosh,Macpherson
|> etc. The motto is derived from the
|> Latin and under the thistle stating "nemo me impune lacessit"
|> translation:" no one sits on me with impunity" and "touch not the cat but
|> the glove" can also be translated as meaning "protect yourself at all
|> times"
|>

Touch not the Cat Bot a Glove means Touch not the Cat but with a Glove, ie you
need to wear gloves if you're going to tangle with a member of the Clan Chattan
(Cats) group, because they are as fierce as wildcats. So it is both a positive
affirmation about their fierceness, and a warning to their enemies. A wildcat
is a pretty good totem for a clan - they really are untouchable, as people who
try to touch them soon learn! I suspect this motto is much older than "nemo me
impune lacessit".

Ann

Chris Dauten & Michelle Reeder-Dauten

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Sep 19, 1996, 3:00:00 AM9/19/96
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>I suspect this motto is much older than "nemo me impune lacessit".

I suspect you're right. And just to add something to your explanation,
the lands of the Clan Chattan Confederation were once (still?) the home
of a large population of wildcats, which contributed to the clan adopting
it as their crest.

nathan.o...@gmail.com

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Oct 2, 2014, 11:28:58 PM10/2/14
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This is also the motto of Clan Gow.

ruisear...@gmail.com

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May 20, 2015, 7:47:50 AM5/20/15
to
On Wednesday, September 11, 1996 at 3:00:00 PM UTC+8, Bob Clarke wrote:
> Can someone please explain the motto, "Touch Not The Cat But The Glove"?
>
> Also is it from the Clan Chattan?
>
>
>
> --
> James Clarke Chief Engineer, Simpson-James Guitar Company
> Check Out Our Home Page! http://www.connix.com/~sjguitar
> The Guitar Building and The Rec.Music.Makers.Builders FAQs
> are on-line.

Hallo, just saw this so I thought I'd reply. I am the curator of the Clan Macpherson Museum and this is our motto as well as others from the Clan Chattan (Clan Macpherson is a member clan of the Clan Chattan, along with Clan Mackintosh, etc). An "ungloved" cat is one that has it's claws extended. The Scottish Wildcat is the mascot of the Clan Chattan and in the motto it represents the clansman with his sword. Therefore, "Don't mess with us" ;)Hope this helps,

Cheers, Ruiseart.

celtsa...@gmail.com

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Jun 20, 2015, 11:13:01 PM6/20/15
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I like how this thread ended with the clarification by the Curator of the Clan Macpherson Museum. But IS he? -Sheila Macpherson.

baronf...@gmail.com

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Jun 29, 2015, 3:58:15 PM6/29/15
to
On Wednesday, September 11, 1996 at 8:00:00 AM UTC+1, Bob Clarke wrote:
> Can someone please explain the motto, "Touch Not The Cat But The Glove"?
>
> Also is it from the Clan Chattan?
>
>
>
> --
> James Clarke Chief Engineer, Simpson-James Guitar Company
> Check Out Our Home Page! http://www.connix.com/~sjguitar
> The Guitar Building and The Rec.Music.Makers.Builders FAQs
> are on-line.

My surname is Gillis and it's the motto of my family coat of arms, yeah it means, be prepared..... be very prepared, if your gonna take me on, cause this is gonna be a battle you won't walk away unscaved from..... trust me..... I'm gonna whoop yer ass.

mmjc...@gmail.com

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Jul 15, 2015, 11:49:01 PM7/15/15
to
On Wednesday, September 11, 1996 at 2:00:00 AM UTC-5, Bob Clarke wrote:
> Can someone please explain the motto, "Touch Not The Cat But The Glove"?
>
> Also is it from the Clan Chattan?
>
>
>
> --
> James Clarke Chief Engineer, Simpson-James Guitar Company
> Check Out Our Home Page! http://www.connix.com/~sjguitar
> The Guitar Building and The Rec.Music.Makers.Builders FAQs
> are on-line.

Ruiseart Alcorn is the Curator of the Clan MacPherson Museum per the museum website.

The motto in Gaelic is "Na bean don chat gun lamhainn." The original translation was "Touch the cat bot a glove." The confusion came from the use of the Scot's word "bot" which really isn't the same as "but."

The "glove" refers to the cat's claws being retracted. A modern interpretation of the motto would be "Touch not the ungloved cat" - i.e. don't mess with us.

wells.ka...@gmail.com

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Nov 19, 2015, 12:55:19 AM11/19/15
to
"Touch not the cat but a glove. 'But' means without. The 'glove' of a wildcat is the pad. If the cat is 'ungloved', its claws are unsheathed. The motto serves as a warning that one should beware when the wildcat's claws are 'without a glove'. It is a reference to the historically violent nature of the clan and serves as a metaphorical warning to other clans that they should think twice before interfering with Chattan business."

macphe...@gmail.com

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Jan 30, 2016, 5:10:46 PM1/30/16
to
On Wednesday, 11 September 1996 08:00:00 UTC+1, Bob Clarke wrote:
> Can someone please explain the motto, "Touch Not The Cat But The Glove"?
>
> Also is it from the Clan Chattan?
>
>
>
> --
> James Clarke Chief Engineer, Simpson-James Guitar Company
> Check Out Our Home Page! http://www.connix.com/~sjguitar
> The Guitar Building and The Rec.Music.Makers.Builders FAQs
> are on-line.

claws are retracted in my paw,i will let you rub my stomach 2 times,,,, oops 3rd time ,,,,unsheath the claws of war,

sgc...@gmail.com

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May 15, 2017, 2:47:17 PM5/15/17
to
Im from gillespie, same clan

martinmc...@btinternet.com

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Jul 18, 2017, 10:27:51 AM7/18/17
to
On Wednesday, September 11, 1996 at 8:00:00 AM UTC+1, Bob Clarke wrote:
> Can someone please explain the motto, "Touch Not The Cat But The Glove"?
>
> Also is it from the Clan Chattan?
>
>
>
> --
> James Clarke Chief Engineer, Simpson-James Guitar Company
> Check Out Our Home Page! http://www.connix.com/~sjguitar
> The Guitar Building and The Rec.Music.Makers.Builders FAQs
> are on-line.

Basically translated if you havent already found out is: Touch not the cat without a glove." Back in scotland there use to be wild cats andif you tried to catch one to try and domesticate it without using gloves, well you can emagine the state your hands would be in. Hence the motto.

mandy-...@klm4u.com

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Dec 10, 2017, 7:03:09 PM12/10/17
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Hi I am Mandy from the Netherlands. I googled this text because we bought a house that has a big window with these words with a family weapon on it. The house was probably build by people belonging to this clan. Nice to know the explaination now:)

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edgark...@gmail.com

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Aug 1, 2018, 8:36:39 PM8/1/18
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Touch not the cat bot a glove is Gaelic for touch not the cat with it's claws exposed.

S Viemeister

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Aug 2, 2018, 2:41:52 AM8/2/18
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On 8/2/2018 1:36 AM, edgark...@gmail.com wrote:
> Touch not the cat bot a glove is Gaelic for touch not the cat with it's claws exposed.
>
That is NOT Gaelic.

kevin.w...@gmail.com

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Oct 13, 2018, 8:34:55 PM10/13/18
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This motto is onot my family crest which featuresults a black cat rearing up with its claws extended and with a dragons tongue. This has only been in use sInce the 1700s.

Kev
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