tiger cat
- noun
- /ˈtaɪɡər kæt/
:
tigrillo
- The tiger cat is known for its striking stripes.
Examples
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Unlike domestic cats, the tiger cat prefers dense forests and rarely comes close to human settlements.
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The tiger cat is known for its agility and strikingly patterned coat.
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Many conservationists are working to protect the habitat of the tiger cat in the Amazon rainforest.
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Many tiger cats are found in the Amazon rainforest.
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The tiger cat prowled through the dense jungle, its stripes blending into the shadows.
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In the rainforest, we spotted a tiger cat resting on a branch, its coat beautifully patterned.
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The zookeeper explained that the tiger cat is a medium-sized wildcat found primarily in Central and South America.
Synonyms
A medium-sized wild cat from Central and South America with dark stripes
How Striped
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is a straightforward noun+noun describing a cat that is tiger-like; the meaning (a cat with tiger-like stripes or appearance) is directly derivable from 'tiger' + 'cat'. Such descriptive compounds are productive in English and common across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the meaning.
Etymology
Tiger cat is named for its dark, tiger-like stripes on a wild cat, so people saw a small tiger in the forest. That's why the name means 'a medium-sized wildcat with a striped coat'.