panther n 1: a large spotted feline of tropical America similar to the leopard; in some classifications considered a member of the genus Felis [syn: {jaguar}, {panther}, {Panthera onca}, {Felis onca}] 2: a leopard in the black color phase 3: large American feline resembling a lion [syn: {cougar}, {puma}, {catamount}, {mountain lion}, {painter}, {panther}, {Felis concolor}]
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]
Jaguar \Ja*guar"\, n. [Braz. yago['a]ra: cf. & Pg. jaguar.] (Zool.) A large and powerful feline animal ({Panthera onca}, formerly {Felis onca}), ranging from Texas and Mexico to Patagonia. It is usually brownish yellow, with large, dark, somewhat angular rings, each generally inclosing one or two dark spots. It is chiefly arboreal in its habits. It is also called the {panther} and the {American tiger}. [1913 Webster +PJC]
Puma \Pu"ma\ (p[=u]"m[.a]), n. [Peruv. puma.] (Zool.) A large American carnivore ({Felis concolor}), found from Canada to Patagonia, especially among the mountains. Its color is tawny, or brownish yellow, without spots or stripes. Called also {catamount}, {cougar}, {American lion}, {mountain lion}, and {panther} or {painter}. [1913 Webster]
Cougar \Cou"gar\ (k??"g?r), n. [F. couguar, from the native name in the South American dialects, cuguacuara, cuguacuarana.] (Zool.) An American feline quadruped ({Felis concolor}), resembling the African panther in size and habits. Its color is tawny, without spots; hence writers often called it the {American lion}. Called also {puma}, {panther}, {mountain lion}, and {catamount}. See {Puma}. [1913 Webster]
18 Moby Thesaurus words for "panther": Leo, Siberian tiger, bobcat, cat-a-mountain, catamount, cheetah, cougar, jaguar, leopard, lion, lynx, mountain lion, ocelot, painter, puma, simba, tiger, wildcat