noun
ocelot
AH-suh-laht/ˈɑːsəlɑːt/
A small spotted wild cat native to the Americas.
An ocelot moves quietly through the forest on padded paws.
Etymology
Nahuatl ocelotl meant 'jaguar'; Buffon adapted that name for the smaller spotted wildcat now called the ocelot. The name thus reflects a transfer between two American cats.
In context
I think that the ocelot is our most beautiful and beloved endangered species in the state of Texas.
More examples
- The ocelot's spotted coat helps it blend into the shadows.
- Ocelots often hunt at night for rodents and other small animals.
- We spotted an ocelot near the trail in Costa Rica.
Forms
ocelot · ocelots
Similar words
- wildcat
- A broader term that does not identify this particular species.