mao
n. countable C2 Proficiency US //ˈmaʊ// mao
n. a large, long-haired cat that comes from Egypt. It is famous for being the only naturally spotted breed of pet cat.
n. a breed of domestic cat originating in Egypt, distinguished by a naturally occurring spotted coat and a skin fold under the belly. Often referred to as the Egyptian Mau.
The silver mao has beautiful dark spots on its fur.
The breeder explained that the mao is one of the fastest domestic cat breeds due to its unique leg structure.
While many spotted cats are the result of crossbreeding, the mao is a primitive breed whose distinctive markings appear naturally without human intervention.
Usage
Usually capitalized as 'Mau' when referring to the specific breed name.