Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Leopard” come from?

Leopard (English) comes from Middle English leopard, from Old French leopard, from Late Latin leopardus, from Ancient Greek λεόπαρδος, from Ancient Greek Λέων, from Ancient Greek λέων — lion; Leo, the zodiacal sign; lionheart, savage.

Ancestry of “Leopard”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishleopard—
2Old Frenchleopardleopard
3Late Latinleopardusleopon, lipard
4Ancient Greekλεόπαρδοςleopon, lipard; leopard
5Ancient GreekΛέων—
6Ancient Greekλέωνlion; Leo, the zodiacal sign; lionheart, savage
Every word from Ancient Greek λέων →