Lolcat
Overview
A lolcat is an image combining a photograph
of a cat
with text intended to contribute humour
. The text is often idiosyncratic
and grammatically incorrect, and its use in this way is known as "lolspeak" or "kitty pidgin".
"Lolcat" is a compound word
of the acronymic abbreviation "LOL
" and the word "cat". A synonym for "lolcat" is cat macro, since the images are a type of image macro
. Lolcats are commonly designed for photo sharing
imageboard
s and other Internet forums. Similar image macros which do not actually feature cats are often simply referred to as "lols".
As early as the 1870s, British portrait photographer Harry Pointer created a carte de visite
series featuring felines posed in various situations, to which he added amusing text intended to further enhance their appeal.
However, the first recorded use of the term "lolcat" is from the anonymous imageboard
, 4chan
.
Photograph
A photograph is an image created by light falling on a light-sensitive surface, usually photographic film or an electronic imager such as a CCD or a CMOS chip. Most photographs are created using a camera, which uses a lens to focus the scene's visible wavelengths of light into a reproduction of...
of a cat
Cat
The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
with text intended to contribute humour
Humour
Humour or humor is the tendency of particular cognitive experiences to provoke laughter and provide amusement...
. The text is often idiosyncratic
Idiosyncrasy
An idiosyncrasy is an unusual feature of a person . The term is often used to express eccentricity or peculiarity. A synonym may be .-Etymology:...
and grammatically incorrect, and its use in this way is known as "lolspeak" or "kitty pidgin".
"Lolcat" is a compound word
Compound (linguistics)
In linguistics, a compound is a lexeme that consists of more than one stem. Compounding or composition is the word formation that creates compound lexemes...
of the acronymic abbreviation "LOL
LOL
LOL is an acronym or abbreviation of "laughing out loud", "lots of luck", or "lots of love". In medical slang, it is used as an acronym for "little old lady", a reference to the novel House of God.LOL or Lol may also refer to:...
" and the word "cat". A synonym for "lolcat" is cat macro, since the images are a type of image macro
Image macro
In Internet culture, an image macro is a picture captioned with superimposed text for humorous effect.-Internet forums:On Internet forums and imageboards, image macros are used to emphasize a certain phrase by superimposing it over a related picture.-Formats:Although they come in many forms, the...
. Lolcats are commonly designed for photo sharing
Photo sharing
Photo sharing is the publishing or transfer of a user's digital photos online, thus enabling the user to share them with others . This function is provided through both websites and applications that facilitate the upload and display of images...
imageboard
Imageboard
An imageboard or image board is a type of Internet forum that revolves around the posting of images. The first imageboards were created in Japan, and many English-language imageboards today are centered around Japanese culture...
s and other Internet forums. Similar image macros which do not actually feature cats are often simply referred to as "lols".
As early as the 1870s, British portrait photographer Harry Pointer created a carte de visite
Carte de visite
The carte de visite was a type of small photograph which was patented in Paris, France by photographer André Adolphe Eugène Disdéri in 1854, although first used by Louis Dodero...
series featuring felines posed in various situations, to which he added amusing text intended to further enhance their appeal.
However, the first recorded use of the term "lolcat" is from the anonymous imageboard
Imageboard
An imageboard or image board is a type of Internet forum that revolves around the posting of images. The first imageboards were created in Japan, and many English-language imageboards today are centered around Japanese culture...
, 4chan
4chan
4chan is an English-language imageboard website. Launched on October 1, 2003, its boards were originally used for the posting of pictures and discussion of manga and anime...
.
Discussions
