ser·val 
(sûrvəl, sər-văl)
(sûrvəl, sər-văl)n.
A long-legged African wildcat (Leptailurus serval), having a tawny coat with black spots and very large erect ears without tufts.
[French, from Portuguese (lobo) cerval, deerlike (wolf), lynx, from Late Latin cervālis, from Latin cervus, deer; see ker-1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]