lion

plural lions · alternative obsolete lyon

1. A big cat, Panthera leo, native to Africa, India and formerly much of Europe.

   Tigers and lions share a common ancestor from a few million years ago.

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   For with ſuch puiſſance and impetuous maine / Thoſe Champions broke on them, that forſt the fly, / Like ſcattered Sheepe, whenas the Shepherds ſwaine / A Lyon and a Tigre doth eſpye, / With greedy pace forth ruſhing from the foreſt nye.

   1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto IX”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 14, page 311

   Sinibaldus lists lion's fat as a popular medieval aphrodisiac treatment.

   1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 138

   1. A male lion, as opposed to a lioness, which is characterized by having a flowing shaggy mane and taking little part in hunting, which can be done cooperatively.
2. broadlyAny of various extant and extinct big cats, especially the mountain lion.
3. A Chinese foo dog.
4. A person who shows attributes associated with the lion, such as strength, courage, or ferocity.

   It was said of [Edward Plantaganet] that ‘he was a lion for pride and ferocity but a pard for inconstancy and changeableness, not keeping his word or promise but excusing himself with fair words’.

   2003, Peter Armstrong, Angus McBride, Stirling Bridge & Falkirk 1297–98: William Wallace's Rebellion

5. A famous person regarded with interest and curiosity.

   So bring a basket for the lions / Of City of Industry

   2014, Camper Van Beethoven, “City of Industry”, in El Camino Real, performed by Camper Van Beethoven

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   During this period, we were the lions of the neighbourhood; and, no doubt, strangers from the distant villages were taken to see the "Karhowrees" (white men), in the same way that countrymen, in a city, are gallanted to the Zoological Gardens.

   1847 March 30, Herman Melville, Omoo: A Narrative of Adventures in the South Seas; […], London: John Murray, […], →OCLC

   Such society was far more enjoyable than that of Edinburgh, for here he was not a lion, but a man.

   1844, John Wilson, Essay on the Genius, and Character of Burns

   The men were delighted to go, and became the lions of the following season in Adelaide.

   1887, Harriet W. Daly, Digging, Squatting, and Pioneering Life in the Northern Territory of South Australia, page 84

   Rose Waterford was a cynic. She looked upon life as an opportunity for writing novels and the public as her raw material. Now and then she invited members of it to her house if they showed an appreciation of her talent and entertained with proper lavishness. She held their weakness for lions in good-humoured contempt, but played to them her part of the distinguished woman of letters with decorum.

   1919, W[illiam] Somerset Maugham, “ch. 4”, in The Moon and Sixpence, [New York, N.Y.]: Grosset & Dunlap Publishers […], →OCLC

   Heated comments were exchanged, and, before anyone could say, "festival," the two lions of the folk power structure were rolling in the dirt.

   1965 August, Mississippi Phil Ochs, “The Newport Fuzz Festival”, in The Realist, number 61, retrieved 13 Nov 2022, page 11

6. A light brown color that resembles the fur of a lion.
7. historicalAn old Scottish coin, with a lion on the obverse, worth 74 shillings.

alternative obsolete lyon

1. not comparableOf the light brown color that resembles the fur of a lion.

1. astrologyThe constellation and zodiacal sign Leo.

   The Lion reigneth in the Back, Sides, Bones, Sinews and Griſles.

   1668, ‘Godfridus’, The Knowledge of Things Unknown, London: G.P. for G. Sawbridge, page 19

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   Those stars said to belong to the Ram might as well be supposed to belong to the Bull or the Lion.

   1862, [Frances Rolleston], Mazzaroth, or, The Constellations, London: Rivingtons, page 15

   The Ram, the Bull, the heavenly Twins, And next the Crab, the Lion shines, The Virgin and the Scales; The Scorpion, Archer, and Sea-Goat, The Man that carries the Water-pot, And Fish with glittering scales.

   1893, E. W. Bullinger, Witness of the Stars, London: The author, page 16

   The constellations of the Lion and the Scorpion, there can be no doubt, were appropriate star marks for the summer and autumn seasons, when the spring equinoctial point was in the Bull.

   1903, Emmeline M. Plunket, Ancient Calendars and Constellations, London: John Murray, page 66

   "'Tis the simplest thing in the world, sir," said Sheridan. "Virgo, the Maiden, follows Leo, the Lion, in society, as well as in the Zodiac."

   1905 March 4, The Australasian, Melbourne, page 49, column 4

   [T]he Lion is of course one of the most prominent constellations of the Zodiac, and its conquest is obviously the work of a Saviour of mankind.

   1920, Edward Carpenter, Pagan and Christian Creeds, New York: Harcourt, Brace and Co., published 1921, page 49

plural Lions

1. American footballA player for National Football League's Detroit Lions.
2. Canadianball gamesA player for Canadian Football League's B.C. Lions.
3. ball gamesA player for the England football team.
4. Australian rules footballA player or supporter of the Brisbane Lions.