man-eater

man-eater [man-ee-ter] ExamplesWord Origin noun

1. an animal, especially a tiger or lion, that eats or is said to eat human flesh.
2. man-eating shark.
3. a cannibal.
4. Slang. femme fatale.

Origin of man-eater First recorded in 1590–1600 Examples from the Web for man-eater Historical Examples of man-eater

And thus the man-eater was shut in with the three sleeping men.

From Pole to Pole

Sven Anders Hedin

No more than our old war dog Deber-Trud the man-eater did I drop my prey.

The Brass Bell

Eugne Sue

She was not a man-eater, perhaps, but she was nearly romance-mad.

Prudence Says So

Ethel Hueston

“I’ll bet that tiger isn’t as great a man-eater as old Witham,” he said.

The Rival Campers Ashore

Ruel Perley Smith

You might interest a man-eater by initiating him, but would you destroy his appetite?

At Good Old Siwash

George Fitch

British Dictionary definitions for man-eater man-eater noun

1. an animal, such as a tiger, that has become accustomed to eating human flesh
2. any of various sharks that feed on human flesh, esp the great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias)
3. a human cannibal
4. informal a woman with many lovers

Word Origin and History for man-eater n.

also maneater, c.1600, “cannibal,” from man (n.) + eater (see eat). From 1837 in reference to animals (sharks); 1862 of tigers; 1906 of women. Related: Man-eating.