- tiger
- tiger [tī′gər]n.pl. tigers or tiger [ME tygre < OE tiger & OFr tigre, both < L tigris < Gr < Iran tigra-, sharp < IE base * (s)teig- > STICK]1. a large, fierce Asian cat (Panthera tigris), having a tawny coat striped with black2. any of several similar animals; esp.,a) the South American jaguarb) the African leopardc) the Tasmanian wolf3.a) a very energetic or persevering personb) a fierce, belligerent person☆ 4. Archaic a loud yell (often the word “tiger”) at the end of a round of cheers——————☆ have a tiger by the tailto find oneself in a situation from which it may be more dangerous or difficult to escape than to staytigerishadj.
English World dictionary. V. Neufeldt. 2014.