CHEETAH

cheetah, chetah, Acinonyx jubatus

(noun) long-legged spotted cat of Africa and southwestern Asia having nonretractile claws; the swiftest mammal; can be trained to run down game

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

cheetah (plural cheetahs)

A distinctive member (Acinonyx jubatus) of the cat family, slightly smaller than the leopard, but with proportionately longer limbs and a smaller head. It is native to Africa and also credited with being the fastest terrestrial animal.

Synonyms

• hunting leopard, hunting cat

Source: Wiktionary

Chee"tah, n. Etym: [Hind. chita.] (Zoöl.)

Definition: A species of leopard (Cynælurus jubatus) tamed and used for hunting in India. The woolly cheetah of South Africa is C. laneus. [Written also chetah.]

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition