tigress
UK: ˈtaɪɡrəs | US: ˈtaɪɡrəs
n. a female tiger
The word "tigress" combines "tiger," derived from Old French tigre (from Latin tigris, ultimately of Greek or Iranian origin), with the suffix "-ess," which denotes female gender in English (from Old French -esse, Latin -issa, Greek -ισσα). This follows a common pattern in English where "-ess" is added to animal names (e.g., lioness, leopardess) to specify the female counterpart. The suffix has historically been used to feminize nouns, though its usage has declined in modern English for gender-neutral alternatives.
The tigress fiercely protected her cubs from predators.
Unlike the male tiger, the tigress is often more agile when hunting.
A tigress can be identified by her smaller size compared to males.
The documentary highlighted the tigress’s role in raising offspring.
In the wild, a tigress establishes her own territory separate from males.