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.
the fur or pelt of this animal.
any of various related cats resembling this animal.
Heraldry. a lion represented from the side as walking, usually with one forepaw raised, and looking toward the spectator.
Numismatics.
an Anglo-Gallic gold coin issued by Edward III, equal to half a florin, bearing the figure of a leopard.
a silver Anglo-Gallic coin issued by Henry V.
(initial capital letter)Military. a 42-ton (38-metric ton) West German tank with a 105mm gun.
Origin of leopard
1250–1300;Middle English < Late Latinleōpardus < Greekleópardos, syncopated variant of leontópardos, equivalent to leonto- (stem of léōn) lion + párdospard1
Also called: panthera large feline mammal, Panthera pardus, of forests of Africa and Asia, usually having a tawny yellow coat with black rosette-like spots
any of several similar felines, such as the snow leopard and cheetah
clouded leoparda feline, Neofelis nebulosa, of SE Asia and Indonesia with a yellowish-brown coat marked with darker spots and blotches
heraldrya stylized leopard, painted as a lion with the face turned towards the front
the pelt of a leopard
Derived Formsleopardess, fem n
Word Origin for leopard
C13: from Old French lepart, from Late Latin leōpardus, from Late Greek leópardos, from leōn lion + pardospard ² (the leopard was thought at one time to be the result of cross-breeding)
late 13c., from Old French lebard, leupart (12c., Modern French léopard), from Late Latin leopardus, literally "lion-pard," from Greek leopardos, from leon "lion" + pardos "male panther," which generally is said to be connected to Sanskrit prdakuh "panther, tiger." The animal was thought in ancient times to be a hybrid of these two species.
