cougar

noun pl. -·gars or -·gar

a large, powerful, tawny cat (Puma concolor) with a long, slender body and a long tail; puma; mountain lion: it was once found widely from Canada to Patagonia but is now considered an endangered species

Etymology: Fr couguar, contr. (by Comte de Buffon) < cuguacuara, faulty transcription of Port çuçuarana, for Tupí susuarana, lit., false deer < suusú, deer + rana, false: so named from its color