\Ti"ger\, n. [OE. tigre, F. tigre, L. tigris, Gr. ti`gris;
probably of Persian origin; cf. Zend tighra pointed, tighri
an arrow, Per. t[=i]r; perhaps akin to E. stick, v.t.; --
probably so named from its quickness.]
1. A very large and powerful carnivore ({Felis tigris})
   native of Southern Asia and the East Indies. Its back and
   sides are tawny or rufous yellow, transversely striped
   with black, the tail is ringed with black, the throat and
   belly are nearly white. When full grown, it equals or
   exceeds the lion in size and strength. Called also {royal
   tiger}, and {Bengal tiger}.

2. Fig.: A ferocious, bloodthirsty person.

         As for heinous tiger, Tamora.         --Shak.

3. A servant in livery, who rides with his master or
   mistress. --Dickens.

4. A kind of growl or screech, after cheering; as, three
   cheers and a tiger. [Colloq. U. S.]

5. A pneumatic box or pan used in refining sugar.

{American tiger}. (Zo["o]l.)
   (a) The puma.
   (b) The jaguar.

{Clouded tiger} (Zo["o]l.), a handsome striped and spotted
   carnivore ({Felis macrocelis} or {F. marmorata}) native of
   the East Indies and Southern Asia. Its body is about three
   and a half feet long, and its tail about three feet long.
   Its ground color is brownish gray, and the dark markings
   are irregular stripes, spots, and rings, but there are
   always two dark bands on the face, one extending back from
   the eye, and one from the angle of the mouth. Called also
   {tortoise-shell tiger}.

{Mexican tiger} (Zo["o]l.), the jaguar.

{Tiger beetle} (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of
   active carnivorous beetles of the family {Cicindelid[ae]}.
   They usually inhabit dry or sandy places, and fly rapidly.


{Tiger bittern}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Sun bittern}, under {Sun}.


{Tiger cat} (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of wild
   cats of moderate size with dark transverse bars or stripes
   somewhat resembling those of the tiger.

{Tiger flower} (Bot.), an iridaceous plant of the genus
   {Tigridia} (as {T. conchiflora}, {T. grandiflora}, etc.)
   having showy flowers, spotted or streaked somewhat like
   the skin of a tiger.

{Tiger grass} (Bot.), a low East Indian fan palm
   ({Cham[ae]rops Ritchieana}). It is used in many ways by
   the natives. --J. Smith (Dict. Econ. Plants).

{Tiger lily}. (Bot.) See under {Lily}.

{Tiger moth} (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of moths
   of the family {Arctiad[ae]} which are striped or barred
   with black and white or with other conspicuous colors. The
   larv[ae] are called {woolly bears}.

{Tiger shark} (Zo["o]l.), a voracious shark ({Galeocerdo
   maculatus or tigrinus}) more or less barred or spotted
   with yellow. It is found in both the Atlantic and Indian
   Ocean. Called also {zebra shark}.

{Tiger shell} (Zo["o]l.), a large and conspicuously spotted
   cowrie ({Cypr[ae]a tigris}); -- so called from its fancied
   resemblance to a tiger in color and markings. Called also
   {tiger cowrie}.

{Tiger wolf} (Zo["o]l.), the spotted hyena ({Hy[ae]na
   crocuta}).

{Tiger wood}, the variegated heartwood of a tree
   ({Mach[ae]rium Schomburgkii}) found in Guiana.