wildcat

(noun) an exploratory oil well drilled in land not known to be an oil field. Synonyms: wildcat well.

(noun) a cruelly rapacious person. Synonyms: beast, wolf, savage, brute.

(noun) any small or medium-sized cat resembling the domestic cat and living in the wild.

(adj) outside the bounds of legitimate or ethical business practices. Examples: "Wildcat currency issued by irresponsible banks." "Wildcat stock speculation." "A wildcat airline." "Wildcat life insurance schemes."

(adj) without official authorization. Synonyms: unauthorized, unauthorised. Examples: "An unauthorized strike." "Wildcat work stoppage."

(adj) (of a mine or oil well) drilled speculatively in an area not known to be productive. Examples: "Drilling there would be strictly a wildcat operation." "A wildcat mine." "Wildcat drilling." "Wildcat wells."