leopard English · revision 904

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈlɛp.əd/ ''(UK)''; /ˈlɛp.ɚd/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|leopard]], [[bor|fro|leupart]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|la-lat|leōpardus]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|grc|λεόπαρδος|tr=leópardos]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[af|grc|λέων|πάρδος|tr1=léōn|tr2=párdos|t1=lion|t2=panther, pard]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) because the animal was thought in ancient times to be a hybrid of a lion and a panther.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The large spotted cat of Africa and southern Asia (before 1300).^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The modern spelling, from Late Latin, appears about 1330, replacing forms such as ''libbard'' and ''lypard''.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) In heraldry the word was used for a lion passant guardant, as on the arms of England,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) and for a gold coin of Edward III bearing that figure (c. 1344).^(OED 1989)^(RHWU) References to the leopard's inability to change its spots come from Jeremiah 13:23.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The name was also applied to other big cats, such as the ''snow leopard'' and the ''hunting leopard'' or cheetah.^(OED 1989)^(AHD)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1300 – the animal.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1300 – in heraldry, a lion passant guardant.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1330 – the spelling ''leopard''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1382 – the leopard's unchangeable spots.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1490 – leopard fur.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A large, powerful cat, ''Panthera pardus'', of Africa and southern Asia, usually tawny with black rosette markings, sometimes black; a [[panther]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Any of several similar cats, such as the [[snow leopard]] or the [[cheetah]].^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The fur or pelt of the leopard.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(OED 1989)

+ # ''(heraldry)'' A lion shown in side view with one forepaw raised and its head facing the viewer.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[leopardess]]

+ * [[clouded leopard]]

+ * [[leopard cat]]

+ * [[leopard frog]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[camelopard]]

+ * [[pard]]

+ * [[panther]]

+ * [[lion]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}