wildcat
wildcat Lexical Profile
wildcat Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A small, untamed native feline species (such as Felis silvestris), indigenous to Eurasia, Africa, and the Americas, distinguished from domestic cats by a thicker coat and a more robust build.
"The conservationists set up camera traps in the Scottish Highlands to monitor the elusive European wildcat."
A quick-tempered, fierce, or highly unpredictable person.
"She proved to be a real wildcat during the debate, fiercely attacking her opponent's policies without hesitation."
North American An exploratory oil or gas well drilled in an area not previously known to be productive.
"The company invested millions in a wildcat hoping to discover an untapped oil reservoir in the remote basin."
• verb
North American To drill an exploratory well for oil or gas in an unproven or undocumented territory.
"They spent the entire decade wildcatting in the frozen tundra with little success."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'wilde cat', originally referring to the undomesticated European feline. The term expanded in 19th-century American English to metaphorically denote risky financial schemes, exploratory oil wells, and unauthorized labor strikes, drawing on the unpredictable and untamed nature of the animal.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.