wildcat

[ wahyld-kat ]

/ ˈwaɪldˌkæt /

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See synonyms for: wildcat / wildcatted / wildcatting on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural wild·cats, (especially collectively) wild·cat for 1-4.

any of several North American felines of the genus Lynx.Compare lynx.

a yellowish-gray, black-striped feline, Felis sylvestris, of Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa, resembling and closely related to the domestic cat, with which it interbreeds freely.

a closely related feline,Felis sylvestris libyca, of northern Africa, believed to be the ancestor of the domestic cat.

any of several other of the smaller felines, as the serval or ocelot.

a domestic cat that has become feral.

a quick-tempered or savage person.

Railroads. a single locomotive operating without a train, as one switching cars.

an exploratory well drilled in an effort to discover deposits of oil or gas; a prospect well.

a reckless or unsound enterprise, business, etc.

Informal. wildcatter (def. 2).

Nautical. a shaped drum on a windlass, engaging with the links of an anchor chain.

Informal. wildcat strike.

adjective

characterized by or proceeding from reckless or unsafe business methods: wildcat companies; wildcat stocks.

of or relating to an illicit enterprise or product.

running without control or regulation, as a locomotive, or apart from the regular schedule, as a train.

verb (used without object), wild·cat·ted, wild·cat·ting.

to search an area of unknown or doubtful productivity for oil, ore, or the like, especially as an independent prospector.

Slang. to engage in a wildcat strike.

verb (used with object), wild·cat·ted, wild·cat·ting.

to search (an area of unknown or doubtful productivity) for oil, ore, or the like.

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Origin of wildcat

1375–1425; late Middle English wilde cat; compare Middle Low German wildkatte

Words nearby wildcat

wild brier, wild buckwheat, wild calla, wild card, wild carrot, wildcat, wildcat bank, wildcat strike, wildcatter, wild celery, wild cherry

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for wildcat

Running back Royce Freeman reportedly is the emergency quarterback on the roster, and the Broncos could use a wildcat formation at times Sunday with a direct snap to a running back.
Broncos left without any QBs, 49ers could be forced to relocate as pandemic ravages NFL|Mark Maske|November 29, 2020|Washington Post
The Kansas State Wildcats, meanwhile, are protected by a Thundercats-inspired Willie the Wildcat.
The Dummies’ Guide to College Football Bowl Games|Sujay Kumar|January 1, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Ole Cousin Wildcat walk all 'roun' de tree, rubbin' hisse'f, but he aint sayin' nothin'.
Nights With Uncle Remus|Joel Chandler Harris
Dey stretch out dey neck en step high wid dey foot, yit dey aint git too close ter Mr. Wildcat.
Nights With Uncle Remus|Joel Chandler Harris

Of course she could not speak a word of English, and was as fierce as a little wildcat.
A Final Reckoning|G. A. Henty
But this newcomer, with the wildcat smell, seemed about as big as three wildcats.
The Watchers of the Trails|Charles G. D. Roberts
"He's been running a good deal on wildcat lately," suggested North.
The Three Partners|Bret Harte

British Dictionary definitions for wildcat

wildcat

/ (ˈwaɪldˌkæt) /

noun plural -cats or -cat

a wild European cat, Felis silvestris, that resembles the domestic tabby but is larger and has a bushy tail

any of various other felines, esp of the genus Lynx, such as the lynx and the caracal

US and Canadian another name for bobcat

informal a savage or aggressive person

an exploratory drilling for petroleum or natural gas

US and Canadian an unsound commercial enterprise

US and Canadian a railway locomotive in motion without drawing any carriages or wagonsAlso called (in Britain and certain other countries): light engine

(modifier) US and Canadian

of or relating to an unsound business enterprisewildcat stock
financially or commercially unsounda wildcat project

(modifier) US and Canadian (of a train) running without permission or outside the timetable

verb -cats, -catting or -catted

(intr) to drill for petroleum or natural gas in an area having no known reserves

Derived forms of wildcat

wildcatting, noun, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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