leonine

Leonine is an adjective derived from Latin leō, meaning “lion.” In English, it functions as a descriptive term for lions and lion-like features, and more broadly for things associated with the animal or its symbolism.

In zoological and descriptive usage, leonine describes physical traits such as a mane, a powerful build, or other characteristics evocative of a lion. The term appears in scientific descriptions as well as in everyday language when conveying a sense of strength, majesty, or ferocity associated with lions.

In heraldry and symbolism, leonine figures—primarily lions—are common charges representing courage, nobility, and royalty. The adjective leonine is used to describe these lion figures or devices on coats of arms, flags, and allegorical artwork, where the lion is a central motif.

In literature and music, leonine appears in phrases such as “leonine verse” or “leonine rhyme,” terms used to describe certain medieval forms of rhymed poetry in early French and Latin verse. These usages reflect historical associations with the lion’s grandeur and the formal, sometimes formidable, stylistic qualities of the works.