cătușă

From the now lost hypothetical Romanian word *cată or *cat (from Late Latin catta (“cat”) / cattus) + the Romanian diminutive suffix -ușă. Was once attested in an old gloss as having the meaning of "cat" (pisică in modern Romanian), and this is also preserved in some place names such as Dealul-Cătușii, Cătușa, and Căteasca. Compare Aromanian cãtushi, which preserved the original sense. The unique and unusual development of the Romanian word's sense may have been due to the association of some cat paws or feet (those having stripes or different colors than the rest of the body's fur) with manacles placed around the wrist.[1]

cătușă f (plural cătușe)

1. (usually used as plural) handcuff, manacle
2. (botany) black horehound (Ballota nigra)
3. (archaic) anchor

   Synonym: ancoră

4. (archaic) mouse trap, snare

   Synonyms: cursă, laț

5. (obsolete) cat

   Synonym: pisică

• încătușa