Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “leperd” come from?

leperd (Middle English) comes 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 “leperd”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchleopardleopard
2Late Latinleopardusleopon, lipard
3Ancient Greekλεόπαρδοςleopon, lipard; leopard
4Ancient GreekΛέων—
5Ancient Greekλέωνlion; Leo, the zodiacal sign; lionheart, savage

Words derived from “leperd”

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