catwalk
UK: ˈkæt.wɔːk | US: ˈkæt.wɑːk
n. a narrow, elevated walkway, especially one used by models in a fashion show.
n. a narrow pathway or bridge, often high above the ground (e.g., for maintenance or construction).
catwalk = cat<feline> + walk<move on foot>
- cat (from Old English catt, meaning "domestic feline")
- walk (from Old English wealcan, meaning "to roll or move on foot")
Etymology Origin:
The term catwalk originally referred to narrow, precarious pathways (like those a cat might traverse) in industrial or theatrical settings. By the mid-20th century, it was adopted into fashion to describe the elevated runway where models walk, evoking the same sense of slimness and agility. The word’s logic hinges on the analogy between a cat’s nimble movement and the controlled stride of models or workers on a narrow platform.
The models strutted down the catwalk in bold, avant-garde designs.
Engineers inspected the bridge from a steel catwalk beneath its arches.
She tripped on her heels but recovered gracefully mid-catwalk.
The theater’s lighting crew adjusted spotlights from the overhead catwalk.
His debut on the Paris Fashion Week catwalk launched his modeling career.