Patriofelis

noun

Pat·​ri·​o·​fe·​lis

ˌpa‧trēōˈfēlə̇s

: a genus of creodont mammals (family Oxyaenidae) of the Eocene of Wyoming having a skull as large as that of a lion and teeth like those of a cat

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin patrius of a father + -o- + felis cat

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!