UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈwaɪldkæt/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈwaɪldˌkæt/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(wīld′kat′)
wild•cat/ˈwaɪldˌkæt/USA pronunciationn., pl.-cats, also -cat for 1-4.adj., v.,-cat•ted, -cat•ting. n.[countable]
Mammalsa medium-sized cat, as the bobcat, related to the domestic cat.
a quick-tempered or savage person.
a well that is drilled in order to find out if there are deposits of oil or gas.
adj.
characterized by or proceeding from reckless or unsound business methods:wildcat stocks.
not approved of by a labor union:a wildcat strike.
v.
to search (a particular area) for oil, gas, or ore without a good idea whether there are any deposits there: [~ + object]to wildcat an offshore area.[no object]He had wildcatted for years off in the jungles.
wild•cat(wīld′kat′),USA pronunciationn., pl.-cats, (esp. collectively) -cat for 1–4, adj., v.,-cat•ted, -cat•ting. n.
Mammalsany of several North American felines of the genus Lynx. Cf. lynx.
Mammalsa yellowish-gray, black-striped feline, Felis sylvestris, of Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa, resembling and closely related to the domestic cat, with which it interbreeds freely.
Mammalsa closely related feline, Felis sylvestris libyca, of northern Africa, believed to be the ancestor of the domestic cat.
Mammalsany of several other of the smaller felines, as the serval or ocelot.
Mammalsa domestic cat that has become feral.
a quick-tempered or savage person.
[Railroads.]a single locomotive operating without a train, as one switching cars.
an exploratory well drilled in an effort to discover deposits of oil or gas; a prospect well.
a reckless or unsound enterprise, business, etc.
Informal Termswildcatter (def. 2).
[Naut.]a shaped drum on a windlass, engaging with the links of an anchor chain.
Informal TermsSee wildcat strike.
adj.
characterized by or proceeding from reckless or unsafe business methods:wildcat companies; wildcat stocks.
of or pertaining to an illicit enterprise or product.
running without control or regulation, as a locomotive, or apart from the regular schedule, as a train.
v.i.
to search an area of unknown or doubtful productivity for oil, ore, or the like, esp. as an independent prospector.
Slang Termsto engage in a wildcat strike.
v.t.
to search (an area of unknown or doubtful productivity) for oil, ore, or the like.
1375–1425; late Middle English wilde cat; compare Middle Low German wildkatte