■ noun ( fem. ~ess ) a large solitary cat that has a fawn or brown coat with black spots, found in the forests of Africa and southern Asia. [ Panthera pardus .]
↘ Heraldry a lion passant guardant as in the arms of England.
↘[as modifier ] spotted like a ~.
Origin
ME: via OFr. from late L. ~us , from late Gk ~os , from leōn 'lion' + pardos (see pard ).