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”