Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “leopard” come from?

Leopard comes from Middle English leopard, from Old French leopard, from Late Latin leopardus, from Ancient Greek λεόπαρδος, ultimately deriving from Ancient Greek λέων meaning lion.

leopard (English): "Panthera pardus", a large wild cat with a...

Definitions

  1. "Panthera pardus", a large wild cat with a...

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

Words derived from “leopard”

  • leopardess
  • leopardskin
  • wereleopard
  • leopardlike
  • leopardwood
  • leopardine
  • leopards
  • leopardsbane
Every word from Ancient Greek λέων →