tyger

From Middle English tigre, from Old English tīgras (pl) and influenced by Old French tigre, both from Latin tigris, from Ancient Greek τίγρις (tígris), possibly of Iranian origin.

tyger (plural tygers)

1. (obsolete) A tiger.
   • [1669, John Nievhoff, translated by John Ogilby, An Embassy from the Eaſt-India Company of the United Provinces, to the Grand Tartar Cham Emperour of China‎, London: John Macock, →OCLC, page 240:

     Near to Cinyuen, in the Province of Junnan, is the Mountain Nilo, where is great abundance of Tygers and Leopards.]

   • 1769, Firishta, translated by Alexander Dow, Tales translated from the Persian of Inatulla of Delhi, volume I, Dublin: P. and W. Wilson et al., page 6:

     Jewan Sadit, who ſtood before the prince, obſerving his youthful temerity, threw himſelf between him and danger, and with a nervous arm, wielding a ſharp ſabre, of the hard tempered ſteel of Damiſk, ruſhing upon the tyger, he ſtruck him acroſs the forehead.

   • 1794, William Blake, “The Tyger”, in Songs Of Experience:

     Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
     In the forests of the night,
     What immortal hand or eye
     Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

2. (heraldry) Alternative form of tiger

tyger

1. indefinite plural of tyg