What does this mean? A definitions thread

[Amor de Cosmos]

E.S. Turner in the thoroughly entertaining Boys Will Be Boys, has this phrase, regarding an ex-prime minister, in the boys' paper Charley Wag:

"This skinny old goblin was said to bathe daily in beef tea to strengthen his satyr's appetites, with a bath of rosewater afterwards as a freshener. He dined with six demireps and took pleasure in seducing virtuous country spitcats."

The Oxford defines 'demireps' as "a woman whose chastity is considered doubtful." But I can find nothing for 'spitcats.' Anyone have any ideas?

[San Bernardhinault]

If the adjective "skinny" hadn't been used, I'd have guessed this referred to the UK's antepenultimate PM

[Levin]

It's similarity to spinster, two syllables, s and t sounds strikes me.

There's an Ambrose Bierce poem that uses the term. At it's most obvious it conjures up the sort of feline that will claw at you if you try to pet it and hiss at other cats.

[Levin]

Google only turns up the phrase "country spitcats" from the book. Bing and Duckduckgo not at all.

[Amor de Cosmos]

If the adjective "skinny" hadn't been used, I'd have guessed this referred to the UK's antepenultimate PM

Me too. Particularly as the original copy of Charley Wag, refers to the ex PM as "A thoroughly depraved, unprincipled, godless, servile, blasphemous, lecherous old wretch."

[Sam]

The Historical Thesaurus of English (an excellent website) says 'spitcat' entered the English language in 1898, and is another word for an irascible person.

[Sam]

And my profound apologies to anyone who wasn't aware of the HToE and didn't want another time sink introduced into their lives.

[DCI Harry Batt]

What have you done?

[Amor de Cosmos]

The Historical Thesaurus of English (an excellent website) says 'spitcat' entered the English language in 1898, and is another word for an irascible person.

That's excellent thanks. The date makes sense, it's the period being discussed in the book, and also when the author was a boy.

[imp]

I shall be using the word 'spitcat' from now on in all kinds of company. Great word.

[Sam]

What have you done?

Finding out about sites like this is an occupational hazard in my line of work. I'm merely spreading the workplace danger around.

[Discordant Resonance]

And I learn that the phrase is actually "tatterdemalion", rather than "tattermedalion".