A type of engraving tool used in metalwork and printmaking, having a sharp cutting edge.
From French chateline or from the name of the tool's inventor. The term entered English in the 16th century for specialized metalworking equipment.
Catlin tools were named because of their sleek, keen edges—much like a cat's claws—and they're still used today in fine printmaking and jewelry, making this an obscure technical word with staying power across centuries.
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