noun
hellcat
HEHL-kat
noun
1
A fierce, spiteful, or violently bad-tempered person, historically used especially of women.
"Nobody wanted to argue with her — she was a real hellcat when provoked."
How to Use Hellcat
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone with a nasty, violent temper.
When to use it
Old-fashioned and now rare; can sound sexist when applied specifically to women, so use carefully.
Word Forms
hellcats plural
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Etymology
A compound of "hell" and "cat," originally used of a supposedly demonic or witch-like cat, later of a fiery-tempered person.