serval

American  

[sur-vuhl] / ˈsɜr vəl /

noun

plural

servals,

plural

serval

1. a long-limbed, nocturnal African cat, Felis serval, about the size of a bobcat, having a tawny coat spotted with black: now rare in many former habitats.

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serval British  

/ ˈsɜːvəl /

noun

1. a slender feline mammal, Felis serval, of the African bush, having an orange-brown coat with black spots, large ears, and long legs

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Etymology

Origin of serval

1765–75; < New Latin < Portuguese ( lobo ) cerval lynx, literally, staglike (wolf ) < Late Latin cervālis deerlike, equivalent to Latin cerv ( us ) stag + -ālis -al ¹

Example Sentences

The serval did not want to go into her crate.

From Los Angeles Times

They included a caracal, two servals and 16 hybrid felines.

From BBC

The sanctuary said it had lost five African serval cats, four bobcats, two Canada lynx and a Bengal tiger, among others.

From BBC

A serval, a species of exotic African wild cat, that had escaped a month ago from his owner’s Decatur, Illinois, apartment was recaptured.

From Washington Times

Law enforcement says owning the serval is illegal.

From Washington Times