definition of
[wildcat]

[1] #1 wildcat n. [wildcat well] an exploratory oil well drilled in land not known to be an oil field. wn

[2] #2 wildcat n. [beast, wolf, savage, brute] a cruelly rapacious person. wn

[3] #3 wildcat n. any small or medium-sized cat resembling the domestic cat and living in the wild. wn

[4] #4 wildcat s. outside the bounds of legitimate or ethical business practices; "wildcat currency issued by irresponsible banks"; "wildcat stock speculation"; "a wildcat airline"; "wildcat life insurance schemes". wn

[5] #5 wildcat s. (of a mine or oil well) drilled speculatively in an area not known to be productive; "drilling there would be strictly a wildcat operation"; "a wildcat mine"; "wildcat drilling"; "wildcat wells". wn