Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun
- a cat, Acinonyx jubatus, of southwestern Asia and Africa, resembling a leopard but having certain doglike characteristics, often trained for hunting deer, antelope, etc.: an endangered species.
noun
- a large feline mammal, Acinonyx jubatus, of Africa and SW Asia: the swiftest mammal, having very long legs, nonretractile claws, and a black-spotted light-brown coat
1704, from Hindi chita “leopard,” from Sanskrit chitraka “hunting leopard, tiger,” literally “speckled,” from chitra-s “distinctively marked, variegated, many-colored, bright, clear” (from PIE *kit-ro-, from root *(s)kai- (1) “bright, shining;” see shine (v.)) + kayah “body,” from PIE *kwei- “to build, make” (see poet).