from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
panther \pan"ther\ (p[a^]n"th[~e]r), n. [OE. pantere, F.
panth[`e]re, L. panthera, Gr. pa`nqhr, prob. fr. Skr.
pundr[imac]ka a tiger.]
[1913 Webster]
1. (Zool.) A large dark-colored variety of the leopard, by
some Zoologists considered a distinct species. It is
marked with large ringlike spots, the centers of which are
darker than the color of the body.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Zool.) In America, the name is applied to the puma, or
cougar, and sometimes to the jaguar.
[1913 Webster]
[1913 Webster]
{Panther cat} (Zool.), the ocelot.
{Panther cowry} (Zool.), a spotted East Indian cowry
({Cypr[ae]a pantherina}); -- so called from its color.
[1913 Webster]