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armadillo

[ ahr-muh-dil-oh ]
/ ˌɑr məˈdɪl oʊ /
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noun, plural ar·ma·dil·los.

any of several burrowing, chiefly nocturnal mammals constituting the family Dasypodidae, ranging from the southern U.S. through South America, having strong claws and a jointed protective covering of bony plates: used in certain areas for food.

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RELATED WORDS

sloth, aardvark, anteater

Nearby words

  1. arm-wrestle,
  2. arm.,
  3. armada,
  4. armada chest,
  5. armada, spanish,
  6. armageddon,
  7. armagh,
  8. armagnac,
  9. armalite,
  10. armament

Origin of armadillo

1570–80; < Spanish, equivalent to armad(o) armed (< Latin armātus; see arm2, -ate1) + -illo < Latin -illus diminutive suffix
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for armadillo

British Dictionary definitions for armadillo

armadillo

/ (ˌɑːməˈdɪləʊ) /

noun plural -los

any edentate mammal of the family Dasypodidae of Central and South America and S North America, such as Priodontes giganteus (giant armadillo). They are burrowing animals, with peglike rootless teeth and a covering of strong horny plates over most of the body
fairy armadillo another name for pichiciego

Word Origin for armadillo

C16: from Spanish, diminutive of armado armed (man), from Latin armātus armed; compare armada
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for armadillo

armadillo

n.

1570s, from Spanish armadillo, diminutive of armado "armored," from Latin armatus, past participle of armare "to arm" (see arm (n.2)). So called for its hard, plated shell.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper