wildcatter

noun

wild·cat·ter | \ ˈwī(-ə)l(d)-ˌka-tər

Definition of wildcatter

1 : one that drills wells in the hope of finding oil in territory not known to be an oil field

2 : one that promotes unsafe and unreliable enterprises especially : one that sells stocks in such enterprises

3 : one that designs, builds, or fires wildcat cartridges and firearms

4 : a worker who goes out on a wildcat strike

Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about wildcatter

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Did You Know?

Messing with a wildcat, such as a lynx, can be a pretty risky undertaking, but ferocious felines played only an indirect role in the development of the word wildcatter. That term has been used in English since the late 19th century, along with the verb "wildcat," which refers to the risky practice of drilling experimental oil wells in territory not known to produce oil. English-speakers associated "wildcat" with risk-taking ventures after a number of U.S. banks fraudulently issued banknotes with little or no capital to back them up. Supposedly, the banknotes issued by one particular bank bore the image of a panther or, as it was known locally, a "wildcat," and it was those risky notes that led to the financial risk-taking senses of "wildcat" and "wildcatter."

Examples of wildcatter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the depths of the Great Depression, Charles County, Md., got 15 percent of its income from wildcatters breaking the wrecks. — John Kelly, Washington Post, "Jagged remains of more than 100 ghostly ships rest forever in Mallows Bay," 7 Aug. 2019 The ensuing crash pained petrostates and wildcatters alike. — The Economist, "OPEC’s predictable deal cannot hide its giant problems," 4 July 2019 His father, Paul, was Canadian and earned his millions as an oil wildcatter in Alberta. — Ryan O'halloran, The Denver Post, "Pat Bowlen dies: Hall of Fame Broncos owner was 75," 14 June 2019 Pioneer was formed in 1997 after Mr. Sheffield merged his family’s company, Parker & Parsley Petroleum Co., with wildcatter T. Boone Pickens’s Mesa Inc. — Rebecca Elliott And Bradley Olson, WSJ, "A Leader of America’s Fracking Boom Has Second Thoughts," 24 June 2019 Founded by Autry Stevens, a Texas wildcatter who has drilled aggressively in the region for more than five decades, Endeavor has one of the most prized land positions of any oil-and-gas company in the world. — Dana Mattioli, WSJ, "Endeavor Energy Resources Explores Potential Sale," 23 Oct. 2018 The gold boom is attracting not only wildcatters but also criminal gangs and the National Liberation Army, a violent Colombian rebel group steeped in criminal activity, Venezuelan opposition figures and dissident military officers say. — Kejal Vyas |, WSJ, "Desperate Venezuelans Dig Up Paradise in Search of Gold," 20 Nov. 2018 Ormand watched the money as chief financial officer while co-founder and CEO Gary Evans, a brash wildcatter, found the oil and made the deals. — Jordan Blum, San Antonio Express-News, "Lilis may be an acquisition target," 13 July 2018 Three years later, the hill and 2 square miles of the surrounding plains incorporated as the city of Signal Hill, a settlement of roughnecks and wildcatters, an oil boomtown during the time when California produced a quarter of the world’s oil. — Scott Garner, latimes.com, "Neighborhood Spotlight: Signal Hill keeps progress in view without blocking out its oil town past," 22 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wildcatter.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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wildcatter

Definition of wildcatter

Did You Know?

Examples of wildcatter in a Sentence

First Known Use of wildcatter

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