panther

¹

[pan-ther]

noun

plural

panthers ,

plural

panther .

1. the cougar or puma, Felis concolor.

2. the leopard, Panthera pardus.

3. any leopard in the black color phase.

4. a very fierce person.

5. Military.,  Panther, a 43-ton (39-metric ton) German tank of World War II with a 75 mm gun as its main armament.

adjective

1. fierce; strong and violent.

Panther

²

[pan-ther]

noun

1. Black Panther.

panther

/ ˈpænθə /

noun

1. another name for the leopard, esp the black variety, which is known as the black panther

2. any of various related animals, esp the puma

Word History and Origins

Origin of panther¹

First recorded before 1000; from Latin panthēra, from Greek pánthēr; replacing Middle English pantere (from Old French, from Latin ) and Old English pandher (from Latin )

Origin of panther²

First recorded in 1965–70

Word History and Origins

Origin of panther¹

C14: from Old French pantère, from Latin panthēra, from Greek panthēr; perhaps related to Sanskrit pundarīka tiger

Example Sentences

They’ve been told to buddy up when taking trips to the latrines because of “alligators and Florida panthers and venomous snakes and different types of creatures.”

From Salon

It was the screensaver of a black panther that first inspired the look of Toothless in the animated films.

From Los Angeles Times

He crouches on all fours in his silk pajamas like a panther ready to pounce.

From Los Angeles Times

Paul says he and a friend were travelling by train near Glenfinnan when they spotted what he describes as a melanistic leopard, also known as a black panther.

From BBC

Larger cats, including captive lions, tigers and panthers, have also died as a result of eating meat contaminated with bird flu.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cougar