leopard |ˈlepərd|
noun
a large, solitary cat that has a yellowish-brown or brown coat with black spots and usually hunts at night, widespread in the forests of Africa and southern Asia. Also called panther . • Panthera pardus, family Felidae. See also black panther .
• Heraldry the spotted leopard as a heraldic device; also, a lion passant guardant as in the arms of England.
• [as adj. ] spotted like a leopard : a leopard-print outfit.
PHRASES
a leopard can’t change his spots proverb people can’t change their basic nature.
ORIGIN Middle English : via Old French from late Latin leopardus, from late Greek leopardos, from leōn ‘lion’ + pardos (see pard ).
Post edited by: Markooo, at: 2009/04/01 22:23
