man-eater

[ man-ee-ter ]

/ ˈmænˌi tər /

an animal, especially a tiger or lion, that eats or is said to eat human flesh.

a cannibal.

Slang. femme fatale.

Origin of man-eater

First recorded in 1590–1600

Then the man-eater was filled with rage, and he flung himself upon the iron door and burst it in.

The Grey Fairy Book |Various
Henceforth he becomes a 'man-eater,' the most dreaded scourge and pestilent plague of the district.

Sport and Work on the Nepaul Frontier |James Inglis
He was no man-eater, nor woman-eater either, so far as he knew; therefore they might surely let him see the maiden.

The Fairy Ring |Various
He drew up his legs, and the man-eater seemed no more than barely to touch one foot, sinking back into the water with a splash.

The Sea-Wolf |Jack London

She is the man-eater, the destroyer of all that is noble, consistent, progressive in man.

August Strindberg, the Spirit of Revolt |L. (Lizzy) Lind-af-Hageby

man-eater

an animal, such as a tiger, that has become accustomed to eating human flesh

any of various sharks that feed on human flesh, esp the great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias)

a human cannibal

informal a woman with many lovers