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Tiger

1. A very large and powerful carnivore (felis tigris) native of southern asia and the East Indies. Its back and sides are tawny or rufous yellow, transversely striped with black, the tail is ringed with black, the throat and belly are nearly white. When full grown, it equals or exceeds the lion in size and strength.

Synonym: royal tiger, and bengal tiger.

2. A ferocious, bloodthirsty person. As for heinous tiger, Tamora. (Shak)

3. A servant in livery, who rids with his master or mistress.

4. A kind of growl or screech, after cheering; as, three cheers and a tiger.

5. A pneumatic box or pan used in refining sugar. American tiger.

(Science: zoology) Any one of several species of wild cats of moderate size with dark transverse bars or stripes somewhat resembling those of the tiger.

(Science: botany) tiger flower, the spotted hyena (hyaena crocuta). Tiger wood, the variegated heartwood of a tree (Machaerium Schomburgkii) found in Guiana.

Origin: oe. Tigre, f. Tigre, L. Tigris, gr. Tigris; probably of persian origin; cf. Zend tighra pointed, tighri an arrow, Per. Tir; perhaps akin to E. Stick, v.t.; probably so named from its quickness.