1. Plural of catamount; wild cats, especially cougars or mountain lions.
Usage: chiefly North American; often used in regional or historical contexts
2. A fierce or savage person (archaic or informal usage).
Usage: archaic; informal

Examples

• Catamounts roamed the forests of New England before European settlement.
• The hikers spotted tracks that suggested catamounts lived in the remote mountain region.
• Early settlers feared encounters with catamounts while clearing the land.
• The university's mascot is the catamount, representing strength and agility.
• Wildlife experts believe catamounts have returned to some parts of the Northeast.