a feline mammal, Felis pardalis, inhabiting the forests of Central and South America and having a dark-spotted buff-brown coat
Word origin
C18: via French from Nahuatl ocelotl jaguar
ocelot in American English
(ˈɑsələt; ˈɑsəˌlɑt; ˈoʊsəət; ˈoʊsəˌlɑt)
nounWord forms: pluralˈocelots or ˈocelot
any of various wild, spotted cats of North and South America; esp., a large species (Leopardus pardalis) with a yellow or gray coat marked with black spots