in the musical sense of the word, a fugue in the unison, wherein, to humour some conceit in the words, the melody is broken, and the sense interrupted in one part, and caught again or supported by another; as in the catch in Shakespeare's play of the Twelfth-night, where there is a catch sung by three persons, in which the humour is, that each who sings, calls and is called knave in turn: Or, as defined by Mr Jackson, "a catch is a piece for three or more voices, one of which leads, and the others follow in the same notes. It must be so contrived, that rests (which are made for that purpose) in the music of one line be filled up with a word or two from another line; these form a cross purpose, or catch, from whence the name."

CATCH-Fly, in botany. See LYCHNIS.

CATCH-Pole, (quasi one that catches by the pole), a term used, by way of reproach, for the bailiff's follower or assistant.

CATCH-Word, among printers, that placed at the bottom of each page, being always the first word of the following page.