Panther
/ˈpæn.θər/noun
A large wild cat, especially a leopard or jaguar with a black coat; also used more generally for big cats of the genus Panthera.
Did you know?In ancient Greek, *pánthēr* was used for a leopard-like big cat, and the word was later borrowed into Latin and then English, helping give the modern scientific genus *Panthera* its name.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
πάνθηρ (pánthēr)
“A leopard or similar spotted big cat”
Latin
Latin
panther
“A panther or leopard”
Old French
OFr
pantere
“Panther, leopard”
Middle English
English
pantere
“A panther or leopard”
Modern English
English
panther
“A large wild cat, especially a leopard or jaguar”
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