Main Entry:

leop·ard

Pronunciation:

\ˈle-pərd\

Function:

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

— leop·ard·ess \-pər-dəs\ noun

[leopard illustration]