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

[Shawwii Lu]

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

Thank a lot for your kind and detailed explanations, I think I have understood your meaning totally. Thank you! It like to say "Don't mess with me! I'm fierce and ready to attack anyone who bottered me. I think it's not friendly to use this metto as Clan slogan.