See Also: wildcat(dictionary)
wildcat(encyclopedia)
Wildcat Strike(money)
wildcat bank(encyclopedia)
wildcat 1, noun(dictionary)
wildcat 2, verb(dictionary)
wildcat strike(dictionary)
Wildcat Beach(tourism)

wildcat (iou)



wildcat noun & adjective. Also wild cat. LME.
[from WILD adjective + CAT noun1.]
A. noun.
A small native Eurasian and African cat, Felis silvestris, that is usu. grey with black markings and a bushy black-tipped tail, is noted for its ferocity, and is the supposed ancestor of the domestic cat. Also, any of various other smaller members of the cat family, as the bobcat. LME.
A hot-tempered, violent, or spiteful person (esp. a woman). L16.
a. A person who plans a rash project or engages in a risky enterprise. Also, a financially unsound commercial enterprise. colloq. (chiefly US). E19.
b. An exploratory oil well, drilled where there is only a possibility of success. Orig. US. L19.
c. ellipt. Illicitly distilled whiskey. Chiefly US. L19.
d. ellipt. A wildcat strike (see sense B.2d below). M20.
b. attrib. or as adjective.
Of or pertaining to a wildcat. E17.
a. (Of an enterprise etc.) risky, financially unsound; (of a business or its products) illicit; gen. reckless, rash. Orig. & chiefly US. M19.
b. Of or pertaining to an exploratory oil well (see sense A.3b above). Orig. US. L19.
c. Of a train: running in addition to the timetable or without official permission. US. L19.
d. Of industrial action, esp. a strike: called at short notice, usu. without union backing. Orig. US. M20.
wildcatter noun (a) a prospector who sinks wildcat oil wells; (b) a wildcat striker: L19.
wildcatting noun (a) the drilling of a wildcat oil well; (b) participation in a wildcat strike: L19.