Leop"ard (?), n. [OE. leopart, leparde, lebarde, libbard, OF. leopard, liepart, F. l'eopard, L. leopardus, fr. Gr. ; lion + pard. See Lion, and Pard.] Zool.

A large, savage, carnivorous mammal (Felis leopardus). It is of a yellow or fawn color, with rings or roselike clusters of black spots along the back and sides. It is found in Southern Asia and Africa. By some the panther (Felis pardus) is regarded as a variety of leopard.

Hunting leopard. See Cheetah.

Leopard cat Zool. any one of several species or varieties of small, spotted cats found in Africa, Southern Asia, and the East Indies; esp., Felis Bengalensis. -- Leopard marmot. See Gopher, 2.

 

© Webster 1913.