leopard

Meaning

1. Panthera pardus, a large wild cat with a spotted coat native to Africa and Asia, especially the male of the species (in contrast to leopardess).
2. A similar-looking, large wild cat named after the leopard.
3. A similar-looking, large wild cat named after the leopard.
4. A similar-looking, large wild cat named after the leopard.
5. A lion passant guardant.
6. Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genus Phalanta, having black markings on an orange base.

Synonyms

panther

tiger

🐅

Panthera pardus

jaguar

leopardess

lion

🦁

pard

lion passant guardant

cheetah

fox

🦊

wildcat

leopard fur

puma

wild cat

bobcat

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈlɛpəd/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: leopard

Cognate with Pahlavi: palang

Cognate with Chorasmian: plyk

Cognate with Pashto: پړانګ

Cognate with Persian: پلنگ

Cognate with Sanskrit: पृदाकु

In summary

From Middle English leopard, leopart, lepard, leperd, from Old French leopard (“leopard”), from Late Latin leopardus (“leopon, lipard”) from late Ancient Greek λεόπαρδος (leópardos, “leopon, lipard”), from λέων (léōn, “lion”) + πάρδος (párdos, “pard, male leopard”), from earlier πάρδαλις (párdalis, “leopard”), probably from an unattested Old Persian [Term?] term ancestral to Middle Persian palang, Khwarezmian plyk, Sogdian [script needed] (pwrδnk), Pashto پړانګ (pṛāng). Compare Persian پلنگ (palang) and Sanskrit पृदाकु (pṛdāku, “panther”).