means A large wild cat native to Africa and Asia, tawny with dark rosette-shaped spots, known for its strength, stealth, and habit of dragging prey into trees.

from From Latin 'leopardus,' itself from Greek 'leopardos' — a smashing-together of 'leon' (lion) and 'pardos' (panther or spotted cat). The ancients believed the leopard was a hybrid, the literal offspring of a lion and a 'pard,' so the name carries a long-debunked bit of zoological gossip baked right into its bones.