wildcat

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wild·cat / ˈwīldˌkat/ • n. 1. a small native Eurasian and African cat (Felis silvestris) that is typically gray with black markings and a bushy tail, noted for its ferocity. Its African race is believed to be the ancestor of the domestic cat. ∎  any of the smaller members of the cat family, esp. the bobcat. ∎  a hot-tempered or ferocious person, typically a woman. 2. an exploratory oil well.• adj. (of a strike) sudden and unofficial: legislation to curb wildcat strikes. ∎  commercially unsound or risky.• v. [intr.] prospect for oil.

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