catchee

English

Etymology

From catch +‎ -ee.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkæt͡ʃi/
• Rhymes: -ætʃi

Verb

catchee

1. (nonstandard) Pronunciation spelling of catch, representing Chinese, African, or similarly marked pronunciation.
   • 1845, Will Watch, the Bold Smuggler: A Tale of the Coast: The Narrative Founded on Fact, and Characters Drawn from Life, London: A.K. Newman, →OCLC, page 324:

     "Jis for nothin', as the sayin' is," said the black, grinning in Trunnion's face. "No, no, massa; no catchee de negro, no ha de slabe."

   • 1886, Bret Harte, “The Latest Chinese Outrage”, in The Complete Poetical Works of Bret Harte, London: Chatto and Windus, →OCLC:

     You owe flowty dollee—me washee you camp, You catchee my washee—me catchee no stamp

Derived terms

• softly, softly, catchee monkey

Chinese Pidgin English

Etymology

Inherited from English catch.

Verb

catchee

1. Indicates possession; to get; have; own; possess; hold.

   That piecee man no hab catchee dlinko. ― That man has nothing to drink.

   He catchee too-muchee dollar. ― He is very rich.

   My catchee waifo. ― I am – or am to be – married.

References

• Charles Godfrey Leland (1876), Pidgin-English Sing-Song; Or, Songs and Stories in the China-English Dialect‎^[1]‎^[2]