ˈlepə(r)d noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English leupard, leopard, lepard, from Old French lepart, leupart, liepart, from Late Latin leopardus, from Greek leōn lion + pardos pard — more at lion , pard
1.
a. : a large strong cat ( Felis pardus ) of southern Asia and Africa that is usually tawny or buff with black spots arranged in broken rings or rosettes, is somewhat arboreal, and often lies in ambush for its prey that consists of most animals small or weak enough for it to overcome — called also panther
b. : any of several other cats closely resembling a leopard — usually used with a qualifying word
hunting leopard
2.
a.
(1) : a heraldic representation of a lion passant guardant
(2) : a heraldic representation of a lion guardant
b. : a heraldic representation of a leopard
3. : a leopard that is a symbol of unchangeableness
can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? — Jer 13:23 (Revised Standard Version)
4. : the fur or pelt of a leopard
[s]leopard.jpg[/s] [
leopard 1
]