cat's melody

cat's melody (plural cat's melodies)

1. (Ireland, Scotland, dated) A cacophony.
   • 1860 William Carleton "The Three Wishes; An Irish legend" Irish Life and Character; or, Tales and stories of the Irish peasantry p. 333 (London: Henry Lea):

     The wife within is sending the curses thick and heavy on me, and the childre's playing the cat's melody to keep her in comfort.

   • 1926, Hugh MacDiarmid, A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle:

     You vegetable cat's melody!
     Your Concert Miaulant is
     A triumph o' discord shairly

   • 2016, Adrian Barnes, “Day 4; Accidental Colours”, in Nod, London: Titan, →ISBN:

     'This is completely absurd,' I heard him say, his voice barely audible above the screaming that had now started. 'Believe me, I never —'
     Then all we could see was writhing.
     And sounds I don't care to try to represent or transcribe: what used to be called the cat's melody.