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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 (Zool.), any species of louse infecting cattle. There are several species. The Hæmatatopinus eurysternus and Hæmatatopinus vituli are common species which suck blood; Trichodectes scalaris eats the hair. --
Cattle plague, the rinderpest; called also Russian cattle plague. --
Cattle range, or
Cattle run, an open space through which cattle may run or range. [ U. S. ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a cargo ship for the transport of livestock.
Syn. -- cattle boat. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. any orchid of the genus Cattleya characterized by a hood-shaped three-lobed lip enclosing the column; they are among the most popular and most extravagantly beautiful orchids known. Called also cattleya orchid. [ WordNet 1.5 ]