Cat″tle (kăt″t'l), n. pl. [OE. calet, chatel, goods, property, OF. catel, chatel, LL. captale, capitale, goods, property, esp. cattle, fr. L. capitals relating to the head, chief; because in early ages beasts constituted the chief part of a man's property. See Capital, and cf. Chattel.] Quadrupeds of the Bovine family; sometimes, also, including all domestic quadrupeds, as sheep, goats, horses, mules, asses, and swine.
Belted cattle, Black cattle. See under Belted, Black. — Cattle guard, a trench under a railroad track and alongside a crossing (as of a public highway). It is intended to prevent cattle from getting upon the track. — cattle louse(Zoöl.), any species of louse infecting cattle. There are several species. The Hæmatatopinus eurysternus and H. vituli are common species which suck blood; Trichodectes scalaris eats the hair. — Cattle plague, the rinderpest; called also Russian cattle plague. — Cattle range, orCattle run, an open space through which cattle may run or range. Bartlett. — Cattle show, an exhibition of domestic animals with prizes for the encouragement of stock breeding; — usually accompanied with the exhibition of other agricultural and domestic products and of implements.