any of several North American felines of the genus Lynx.Compare lynx.
2.
a yellowish-gray, black-striped feline, Felis sylvestris, of Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa, resembling and closely related to the domestic cat, with which it interbreeds freely.
3.
a closely related feline, Felis sylvestris libyca, of northern Africa, believed to be the ancestor of the domestic cat.
4.
any of several other of the smaller felines, as the serval or ocelot.
5.
a domestic cat that has become feral.
6.
a quick-tempered or savage person.
7.
Railroads. a single locomotive operating without a train, as one switching cars.
8.
an exploratory well drilled in an effort to discover deposits of oil or gas; a prospect well.
Any of various wild felines of small to medium size, especially of the genus Lynx, including the bobcat and the caracal.
Either of two small felines (Felis silvestris subsp. silvestris or subsp. lybica) of Europe, Asia, and Africa, often regarded as being the ancestor of the domestic cat.
A quick-tempered person.
A person regarded as fierce.
An oil or natural-gas well drilled in an area not known to be productive.
A workers' strike unauthorized by their union.
adj.
Risky or unsound, especially financially.
Issued by a financially irresponsible bank: wildcat currency.
Operating or accomplished outside the norms of standard, ethical business procedures: wildcat life insurance schemes.
Of, relating to, or being an oil or natural-gas well drilled speculatively in an area not known to be productive.
Undertaken by workers without approval of the officials of their union: a wildcat strike.
v.
wild·cat·ted, wild·cat·ting, wild·cats
v.
tr. To prospect for (oil, for example) in an area supposed to be unproductive. v.
intr.
To prospect for oil or other minerals in an area not known to be productive.
[wahyld-kat] 
noun, plural -cats, (especially collectively
) -cat for 1–4, adjective, verb, -cat⋅ted, -cat⋅ting.