leopard

noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French lepart, leupart, from Late Latin leopardus, from Greek leopardos, from leōn lion + pardos leopard Date: 13th century 1. a large strong cat (Panthera pardus) of southern Asia and Africa that is adept at climbing and is usually tawny or buff with black spots arranged in rosettes — called also panther 2. a heraldic representation of a lion passant guardant • leopardess noun