catamount: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very RareFormal, Literary, Archaic, Regional
Quick answer
What does “catamount” mean?
A wild feline.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A wild feline; a cougar, puma, or lynx.
A rarely used term for a powerful, solitary, and often elusive wild cat of mountainous regions in North or South America. It can also function as a metaphorical term for a fierce, solitary, or savage person.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is virtually extinct in modern British English. In American English, it survives mainly in historical texts, place names (e.g., Catamount Mountain), and as a regionalism, particularly in New England.
Connotations
In the US, it has a rustic, old-fashioned, or folkloric connotation. In a UK context, if used, it would be perceived as an exotic Americanism or a purely historical term.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both, but marginally higher in historical US contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “catamount” in a Sentence
The (adjective) catamount (verb, e.g., prowled) the (noun).They spotted a catamount (prepositional phrase, e.g., in the rocks).Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “catamount” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- He had a catamount-like intensity in his eyes.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used only in historical, literary, or regional studies. Not standard in biological taxonomy.
Everyday
Extremely rare. A speaker might use it for deliberate poetic or old-fashioned effect.
Technical
Not used in modern zoology; specific species names (Puma concolor) are preferred.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “catamount”
- Using it in modern conversation.
- Using it as a general term for any large wild cat outside the Americas.
- Misspelling as 'cat-a-mount' or 'catamountain'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in American usage, 'catamount', 'mountain lion', 'cougar', and 'puma' all refer to the same large feline species, Puma concolor.
It is an archaic, regional folk name that has been largely replaced in common usage by more standard terms like 'cougar' or 'mountain lion'.
Historically and regionally, it could sometimes refer to the lynx or bobcat, but its primary and most consistent reference is to the cougar/puma.
Primarily in historical documents, classic American literature, folk tales, and in place names throughout New England and other parts of the eastern United States.
A wild feline.
Catamount is usually formal, literary, archaic, regional in register.
Catamount: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkatəmaʊnt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkædəˌmaʊnt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Fight like a catamount.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Picture a cat of a MOUNTain → CATamount. It's a cat that lives on mountains.
Conceptual Metaphor
A CATAMOUNT IS A RECLUSIVE, DANGEROUS FORCE OF NATURE.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'catamount' be LEAST appropriate?