wolfshaped

Wolfshaped is an adjective meaning having the form, posture, or general silhouette of a wolf. The term is primarily descriptive, used when a human, animal, or inanimate object is noted for its wolf‑like outline. In typified phrases it often appears as “wolfshaped” or more commonly “wolf‑shaped”, though the single‑word form is accepted by most dictionaries.

In folklore and medieval literature the word surfaces in references to shapeshifters who can assume a wolflike guise. A famous example occurs in the 15th‑century Austrian bestiary where the “wolfshaped man” is described as a demonic figure that takes wolf form for its hunts. The usage is figurative rather than literal; it notes a creature or spirit that is disguised as, or imitates, a wolf.

In modern English, wolfshaped is found mainly in literary descriptions and occasionally in popular media. Writers may say that a character has a "wolfshaped grin" or that a mountain ridge has a "wolfshaped profile" to evoke a certain visual impression. The word can also apply to zoological illustrations, where a see‑through body diagram might be labeled as showing a "wolfshaped torso" when comparing species.

The term is typically used in an isolated phrase; it does not have a separate noun form in standard usage. Its use is limited to contexts where the wolf’s shape is the primary identifier, rather than in scientific taxonomic nomenclature.