leopard

Where does the word "leopard" come from? It comes from Greek pardos, passing through Late Latin and Old French before entering English (1200s).

Leopard’s story begins in Greek: pardos meant “a spotted big cat.” Romans believed the leopard was a cross between a lion ('leo') and a panther ('pardus'). By ancient, the word had taken hold in Late Latin as leopardus. Formed from leo (lion) and pardus (panther), once thought to be a lion-panther hybrid. From there it passed into Old French as leopart by medieval. Carried into French for the spotted big cat. It reached English by 1200s as leopard. Settled as the English word for the spotted big cat. Today, leopard means a large spotted wild cat native to Africa and Asia.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient pardos "a spotted big cat", Romans believed the leopard was a cross between a lion ('leo') and a panther ('pardus').
2. Stage 2 · Late Latin · ancient leopardus "a lion-panther hybrid", formed from leo (lion) and pardus (panther), once thought to be a lion-panther hybrid.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval leopart "the spotted big cat", carried into French for the spotted big cat.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1200s leopard "a spotted big cat native to Africa and Asia", settled as the English word for the spotted big cat.