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 • Nov. 11, 2025

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

From BBC • Dec. 25, 2024

This particular serval, “Reese,” escaped from owner Christopher Solomon’s apartment last month.

From Washington Times • Nov. 15, 2023

This area – spanning parts of modern-day Egypt, Turkey, Syria, Iran and more – is home to numerous small cats, including the caracal, serval, jungle cat and sand cat.

From Salon • Aug. 11, 2023

Uncle Kufa had given two serval skins to the nganga in return for headache medicine, and the nganga had made himself a ceremonial hat.

From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer