Ocelote
/ˌɒsɪˈləʊti/noun
An alternative English form of ocelot, a small spotted wild cat native to the Americas.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Classical Nahuatl ocelōtl, the language of the Aztec Empire; unlike many animal names, its Indigenous source survived through several European languages.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-Columbian period
Nahuatl
ocelōtl
“A jaguar or other spotted feline; the precise animal distinction differed from modern zoological categories.”
16th Century
Spanish
ocelote
“A name adopted from Nahuatl for a spotted American wild cat.”
16th Century
French
ocelot
“A spotted American feline, borrowed through Spanish exploration and description.”
17th Century
English
ocelot
“The small spotted wild cat now classified as Leopardus pardalis.”
Modern English
English
ocelote
“A rare alternative spelling or form of ocelot.”