Tigre

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Characterized as a large wild cat known for its distinctive stripes and powerful build, often found in forests and tropical regions
2. Describing an apex predator recognized for its strength, agility, and solitary behavior, commonly associated with Asian cultures
3. Referring to a species of feline that plays a crucial role in ecosystems and is celebrated in mythology for its majestic presence

Etymology: The word "tigre" is simply an older spelling of "tiger", and the animal's name traces back to an Iranian word meaning "arrow." The Greeks borrowed it as "tigris," and the Romans took it up as "tigris" too, but the core idea was sharpness and speed, not a striped cat. Its roots are in the Proto-Indo-European "(s)teyg-," meaning "to pierce, prick, be sharp," which is also the source of English "stick." The English word reached us along two routes at once. Middle English "tygre" drew partly on Old English "tigras," the plural form, and partly on Anglo-Norman "tigre," which came from Latin. The spelling "tigre" that you are asking about is the older form that eventually gave way to the modern "tiger."

Synonyms: tiger