LEOPARD

noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French lepart, leupart, from Late Latin ~us, from Greek ~os, from leōn lion + pardos ~ Date: 13th century 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, a heraldic representation of a lion passant guardant, ~ess noun