wildcatter

English

Etymology

From wildcat +‎ -er.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈwaɪldˌkætə(ɹ)/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

wildcatter (plural wildcatters)

1. (US) Someone who drills for oil speculatively.
2. A worker who participates in a wildcat strike.
3. (firearms) A person who makes wildcat cartridges and the guns that use them.
   • a. 2005, “Ammunition”, in Weatherby‎^[1], archived from the original on 15 February 2005:

     Roy Weatherby began his career in the firearms industry as a “wildcatter”, developing his revolutionary ideas about rifle cartridge performance and design.