lion
UK[ˈlaɪən]US[ˈlaɪən]
n
A large, powerful wild cat that has a short tawny coat, a tufted tail, and, in the male, a heavy mane. It is native to Africa and India.
n
A brave, strong, or fierce person.
Etymology
The word 'lion' entered English through the Anglo-Norman 'liun', which itself came from the Latin 'leo, leonis'. Latin borrowed the term from the Greek 'leon'. The Greek word is believed to have origins in a non-Indo-European language, possibly from a Semitic source akin to Hebrew 'labi' or Akkadian 'labbu'. The term's journey into English reflects the animal's symbolic power and prominence across Mediterranean and Near Eastern cultures, solidifying its place in the language with a stable form and spelling that resists further segmentation.
Analysis
The word 'lion' is a simplex loanword. Its spelling and form were borrowed as a whole from Anglo-Norman and Old French 'liun', 'leon'. It ultimately derives from Latin 'leo, leonis' and Greek 'leon', all referring to the animal.
Examples
The lion is often called the king of the jungle.
She fought like a lion to protect her family.
We saw a pride of lions resting under an acacia tree.