The term pussy was initially used to refer to a “cat” in the late 17th century, derived from the term puss. Interestingly, it was also used as a term of endearment for “girl”, as sweet girls were thought to share characteristics with kittens (this later evolved into the insulting meaning of “effeminate man”), and could even mean “rabbit” during its early usage. The slang term for “woman’s genitals” originated from puss in the early 18th century due to the similarities in being “soft, warm, and furry”. The term puss itself is derived from a common Germanic word for “cat”, likely imitating the hissing sound used to call them over (similar words can be found in Arabic and Farsi as well). The expression pussyfoot was coined in 1903 based on the idea of cats walking lightly.
