tear-cat

plural tear-cats

1. obsoleteactingAn overactor.

   I am cal'd by those that have seen my valour, Tear-Cat.

   1611, Thomas Middleton, Thomas Dekker, The Roaring Girl, act 5, scene 1

   1 more example

   Fie upon't, mere fustian; I had rather hear two good bawdy jests then a whole play of such tear-cat thunder-claps.

   1606, John Day, The Isle of Gulls, in White, Thomas, editor, The Old English Drama, volume 4, published 1830, Induction, page 15

   Synonyms: ham, hambone, hamfatter, overactor