an exploratory oil well drilled in land not known to be an oil field

[ Syn: wildcat well ]

a cruelly rapacious person

[ Syn: beast , wolf , savage , brute ]

any small or medium-sized cat resembling the domestic cat and living in the wild

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'

without official authorization; an unauthorized strike; wildcat work stoppage

[ Syn: unauthorized , unauthorised ]

(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'