Most of the New England settlers would have said mountain lion, but coming up the Merrimack River was settled by Scots-Irish, so I have a Catamount Rd within a mile of me.
As Mike G will be along to remark soon, it's the mascot of the local university (Western Carolina U). I don't think the term is in common use except to designate the football team. Just over the county line is a place called "Panthertown," which is not a town but a wilderness area (part of the Nantahala National Forest). There are reports of the big cats there every now and then, although officially they are extinct.
I know several people who have sworn on a stack of Bibles that they saw a 'Painter' when they were traveling in the deeper reaches of Little Canada. Mostly on the Sols Creek side going up towards Wolf Creek and maybe Cathy's Gap. My late brother told me saw one once jump out in front of him when he took the Slick Fisher Road cut off towards Lake Towaway.
Catamount? It's a painter. [Dialect pronunciation of "panther".] Or cougar, or "brown cat," if you don't want to spook someone. (Or it's the vet bill after my geriatric calico goes in for her annual check-up.)
Most of the New England settlers would have said mountain lion, but coming up the Merrimack River was settled by Scots-Irish, so I have a Catamount Rd within a mile of me.
ReplyDeleteAs Mike G will be along to remark soon, it's the mascot of the local university (Western Carolina U). I don't think the term is in common use except to designate the football team. Just over the county line is a place called "Panthertown," which is not a town but a wilderness area (part of the Nantahala National Forest). There are reports of the big cats there every now and then, although officially they are extinct.
ReplyDeleteI know several people who have sworn on a stack of Bibles that they saw a 'Painter' when they were traveling in the deeper reaches of Little Canada. Mostly on the Sols Creek side going up towards Wolf Creek and maybe Cathy's Gap. My late brother told me saw one once jump out in front of him when he took the Slick Fisher Road cut off towards Lake Towaway.
DeleteA new factory/warehouse just up the road from me is being built by Catamount Constructors.
ReplyDeleteCatamount? It's a painter. [Dialect pronunciation of "panther".] Or cougar, or "brown cat," if you don't want to spook someone. (Or it's the vet bill after my geriatric calico goes in for her annual check-up.)
ReplyDeleteLittleRed1
We don't call them catamounts here, but of course I'm familiar with the term.
ReplyDelete