About the meaning of the motto 'Touch not a cat but a glove"

[MacGumerait]

I am baffled about the meaning of "bot a glove" in this motto, I incline to the view that it means people who is not wearing a glove should not touch a cat, not means that while a cat is not wearing a glove people should not touch the cat. Because cats have no gloves. My mother tongue is Chinese, I'm quite good at English. Please teach me about it. Thanks a lot!

Shawwii Lu from China

Greetings and welcome to XMarks .

The motto " Touch not the cat bot a glove " is saying in modern day English " Don't touch a cat that has it's claws out " .

The expression " bot a glove " is referring to the cat ( wildcat ) not a person trying to touch the cat .

The pad on a cat's paw was once called a " glove " . If the cat is " without a glove " ( bot a glove ) it means the cat has it's claws extended out .

Thus , " Touch not the cat bot a glove " ... means ... " Don't touch a cat with it's claws out " . This motto was used by the Macpherson Clan and was meant as a warning to those who would " touch " their Clan .... or in other words , a warning to those who would interfere and try to do harm to the Macphersons .

Hope this helps clarify .

Cheers , Mike