Pumas

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A large, powerful wild cat native to the Americas, known for its agility and solitary nature
2. A species of big cat also called mountain lion or cougar, recognized for its tawny coat and adaptability
3. An apex predator in various habitats, ranging from mountainous regions to forests, often symbolizing strength and independence

Etymology: "Pumas" is simply the plural of "puma," so its history is that of the singular noun. The word came into English from Spanish "puma," which in turn was borrowed from Quechua, the language of the Inca Empire in the Andes, where "puma" named this big cat. Its roots go back to a reconstructed ancestor of Quechua, Proto-Quechuan "*puma," which is why the word traveled north with Spanish conquest and exploration rather than through the classical languages that gave English so many of its other terms. The animal is a native of the Americas, ranging from Canada to the southern Andes, so the name reflects the people who knew it best. English speakers encountered the word through Spanish-speaking contact with South America, and the Andean origin is the reason a large cat of North American forests carries a South American name.

Synonyms: cougars, mountain lions, panthers