leopard

[ lep-erd ]

noun

1. a large, spotted Asian or African carnivore, Panthera pardus, of the cat family, usually tawny with black markings; the Old World panther: all leopard populations are threatened or endangered.
2. the fur or pelt of this animal.
3. any of various related cats resembling this animal.
4. Heraldry. a lion represented from the side as walking, usually with one forepaw raised, and looking toward the spectator.
5. Numismatics.
   1. an Anglo-Gallic gold coin issued by Edward III, equal to half a florin, bearing the figure of a leopard.
   2. a silver Anglo-Gallic coin issued by Henry V.
6. Leopard, Military. a 42-ton (38-metric ton) West German tank with a 105 mm gun.

leopard

/ ˈlɛpəd /

noun

1. Also calledpanther a large feline mammal, Panthera pardus, of forests of Africa and Asia, usually having a tawny yellow coat with black rosette-like spots
2. any of several similar felines, such as the snow leopard and cheetah
3. clouded leopard
   clouded leopard a feline, Neofelis nebulosa, of SE Asia and Indonesia with a yellowish-brown coat marked with darker spots and blotches
4. heraldry a stylized leopard, painted as a lion with the face turned towards the front
5. the pelt of a leopard

Derived Forms

• ˈleopardess, noun:feminine

Word History and Origins

Origin of leopard¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English leopard, labarde, lebarde, from Old French leopard, lebard, leupard, from Late Latin leōpardus, from Greek leópardos, syncopated variant of leontópardos, equivalent to leonto- (stem of léōn ) + párdos; lion, pard ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of leopard¹

C13: from Old French lepart, from Late Latin leōpardus, from Late Greek leópardos, from leōn lion + pardos pard ² (the leopard was thought at one time to be the result of cross-breeding)

Example Sentences

Instead, take your time gazing at the buffalos, elephants, rhinos, leopards and lions.

From Ozy

If 25 or more neighbors respond with a letter saying they are not interested in having a leopard on the block, the leopard is not allowed.

From Popular-Science

At the same time, they’re building wildlife reserves for the wolves and snow leopards.

From Ozy

Lions and leopards were seen snoozing out in the open in national parks where they would normally be more wary of human visitors.

From Popular-Science

If any type of symbol held sway over this community, it was more likely to be a leopard than a woman.

From Popular-Science

Their captors wore palm leaves, leopard skins, and magical relics to make themselves immune to bullets.

From The Daily Beast

A leopard seal is “about a thousand-pound animal with lots of teeth,” Perryman explains.

From The Daily Beast

She sports a Saint Laurent by Hedi Slimane leopard button-down, a black blazer, and red leather pants.

From The Daily Beast

Animal prints abounded: snakeskin booties, leopard-print hot pants, zebra-printed flamingo skirts.

From The Daily Beast

Later she volunteered at Snow Leopard Trust and the Akre Tiger Sanctuary in Bellingham.

From The Daily Beast

If the Ethiopian can change his skin, or the leopard his spots: you also may do well, when you have learned evil.

From Project Gutenberg

She was red-haired by courtesy of the local beauty parlor, cuddling up in a flashy little leopard fur number.

From Project Gutenberg

You never shoot an animal weaker than yourself, and if you want to shoot a tiger or a leopard, you give it a warning.

From Project Gutenberg

The species of the leopard seems to be subject to more varieties than that of the panther and the ounce.

From Project Gutenberg

In Europe, though scarce, they are of no great value; those of the panther and leopard being held in much greater estimation.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cheetah
• panther