pantheressn.
/panθəˈrɛs/, /ˈpanθ(ə)rᵻs/, U.S. /ˈpænθ(ə)rəs/ 1. A female panther.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > family Felidae (feline) > [noun] > genus Panthera > panthera pardus (leopard or panther) > female
leopardess1567
pantheress1831
1831 Huron Reflector (Norwalk, Ohio) 18 July (advt.) This extensive collection of foreign animals will be exhibited in this village, on Wednesday the 20th instant... It consists of..the North American Panther and Pantheress.
1862 J. A. Froude in J. Skelton Shirley's Table-t. 127 Mary Stuart..was something between Rachel and a pantheress.
1905 A. I. R. Glasfurd Rifle in Indian Jungle 254 A strapping Gònd girl, lithe as a pantheress.
1990 D. Walcott Omeros vi. 36 A branch where a pantheress lies curled with leaf-light on its black silk.
2. figurative. A beautiful or graceful woman (usually with suggestions of wildness or cruelty).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > [noun] > beautiful thing or person > beautiful person > beautiful woman > cruel or dangerous
pantheress1868
femme fatale1879
1868 Sat. Rev. 18 Jan. 75/1 A heroine of the beautiful pantheress order.
1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Miner's Right I. vii. 184 And here you are, just as much carried away by this infernal scoundrel's regular features and soft voice, as that handsome pantheress that he's stolen somewhere.
1892 R. Hovey Marriage of Guenevere iv. iii, in Launcelot & Guenevere 209 Your lips burn and your cheeks are hot. Morgause! My pantheress! My splendid devil!
1984 Women's Wear Daily (Nexis) 19 June 4 Looking very much the sex kitten, or pantheress, perhaps, in a short black silk dress.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2005; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1831