wildcatter


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wild·cat·ter

 (wīld′kăt′ər)
n.
1. One who is engaged in speculative mining or well drilling in areas not known to be productive.
2. A promoter of speculative or fraudulent business enterprises.
3. A worker who participates in a wildcat strike.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

wildcatter

(ˈwaɪldˌkætə)
n
(Mining & Quarrying) informal US and Canadian a prospector for oil or ores in areas having no proved resources
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

wild•cat•ter

(ˈwaɪldˌkæt ər)

n.
1. an oil prospector.
2. a person who promotes risky or unsound business ventures.
3. a person who participates in a wildcat strike.
[1880–85, Amer.]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.wildcatter - an oilman who drills exploratory wells in territory not known to be an oil field
oilman - a person who owns or operates oil wells
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
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Zuckerman explains the approach of these "wildcatter" energy explorers:
If you are lucky enough to have grown up in Texas, you are all too familiar with how popular culture, particularly Hollywood, has glamorized the life of a wildcatter or roughneck.
As that famous 19th century wildcatter John Galey once remarked, "Only Dr Drill knows," an apt comment meaning that unless and until you drill all the rest is speculation.
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