tatouay

[ tat-oo-ey, tah-too-ahy ]

noun

1. a naked-tailed armadillo, Cabassous unicintus, of tropical South America.

tatouay

/ ˈtætʊˌeɪ; ˌtɑːtʊˈaɪ /

noun

1. a large armadillo, Cabassous tatouay, of South America

Word History and Origins

Origin of tatouay¹

1825–35; < Spanish tatuay < Portuguese < Guarani tatu-ai, equivalent to tatu armadillo + ai worthless, lazy

Word History and Origins

Origin of tatouay¹

C16: from Spanish tatuay, from Guarani tatu ai, from tatu armadillo + ai worthless (because inedible)