tiger

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A large, powerful wild cat with orange fur and black stripes, native to Asia.

   The tiger crept silently through the long grass toward its prey.

2. 2
   noun

   A bold, fierce, or determined person.

   On the tennis court he's a real tiger, fighting for every point.

3. 3
   noun

   A small country with a fast-growing economy.

   For years the country was seen as one of Asia's economic tigers.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Tiger came into English through French and Latin from Greek tigris. The animal once ranged into Turkey and the Middle East and was known to Europeans in classical antiquity.

From Middle English tygre, in part from Old English tigras (pl.), in part from Anglo-Norman tigre, both from Latin tigris, from Ancient Greek τίγρις (tígris), from Iranian (compare Avestan 𐬙𐬌𐬔𐬭𐬌 (tigri, “arrow”), 𐬙𐬌𐬖𐬭𐬀 (tiγra, “pointed”)). Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)teyg- (“to pierce, prick, be sharp”). Compare English stick.

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary