The word "pussy" is derived from the Modern English "puss", a conventional term to address a cat. The Oxford
English Dictionary states that cognates of the word are common to several
Germanic languages, including the Dutch "poes" and the Middle Low German "puse", both of which are used to call a cat. As a word, "puss" is attested to be part of the
English language as early as 1553. Earlier etymology is uncertain, though there are other words of similar sound, such as the Lithuanian "puize" and the Irish "puisin", both of which are also traditional manners to call a cat.