n. 1 a large Asian flesh-eating feline, Panthera tigris, having a yellow-brown coat with black stripes. 2 a fierce, energetic, or formidable person. tiger beetle any flesh-eating beetle of the family Cicindelidae, with spotted or striped wing-covers. tiger-cat 1 any moderate-sized feline resembling the tiger, e.g. the ocelot, serval, or margay. 2 Austral. any of various flesh-eating marsupials of the genus Dasyurus, including the Tasmanian devil. tiger-eye (or tiger's-eye) 1 a yellow-brown striped gem of brilliant lustre. 2 US a pottery-glaze of similar appearance. tiger lily a tall garden lily, Lilium tigrinum, with flowers of dull orange spotted with black or purple. tiger moth any moth of the family Arctiidae, esp. Arctia caja, having richly spotted and streaked wings suggesting a tiger's skin. tiger-wood a striped or streaked wood used for cabinet-making. tigerish adj. tigerishly adv.
[ ME f. OF tigre f. L tigris f. Gk tigris ]