wildcat

an exploratory oil well drilled in land not known to be an oil field

a cruelly rapacious person

any small or medium-sized cat resembling the domestic cat and living in the wild

outside the bounds of legitimate or ethical business practices; "wildcat currency issued by irresponsible banks"; "wildcat stock speculation"; "a wildcat airline"; "wildcat life insurance schemes"

without official authorization; "an unauthorized strike"; "wildcat work stoppage"

(of a mine or oil well) drilled speculatively in an area not known to be productive; "drilling there would be strictly a wildcat operation"; "a wildcat mine"; "wildcat drilling"; "wildcat wells"