noun
ounce
A historical or poetic name for the snow leopard.
The old bestiary calls the snow leopard an ounce.
Etymology
The animal name came from French once, an older name for a large wild cat. English used it particularly for the snow leopard.
More examples
- The poem describes an ounce moving across the rocks.
- In that historical text, ounce names a spotted mountain cat.
- The glossary identifies the ounce as a snow leopard.
Forms
ounce · ounces
Similar words
- snow leopard
- The usual modern animal name.