armadillo
[ahr-muh-dil-oh]
- 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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Origin of armadillo
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for armadillo
Contemporary Examples
Nicaragua: Nicaragua boasts not one, but two species of everyone's favorite armored mammal, the armadillo.
And, like a true critic, Menkes dwelled for a moment on the centerpiece of that collection, the infamous Armadillo boot.
How Alexander McQueen's "armadillo boots" charmed Lady Gaga, Daphne Guinness, and Barbie.
When you were doing the interview, David, were you aware of just how thick skinned, how armored, he was like an armadillo?
Historical Examples
It is a curious fact that mosquitoes often inhabit the burrows of the armadillo.
The Western WorldW.H.G. Kingston
When he finds no mosquitoes, he is sure there is no armadillo.
The Western WorldW.H.G. Kingston
The monkey, the goat, and the armadillo have all failed to give satisfaction.
Fairy Tales from BrazilElsie Spicer Eells
The armadillo had not heard of any danger, but he replied that it had passed.
Fairy Tales from BrazilElsie Spicer Eells
"Let the one who got you in there help you out," replied the armadillo as he went on his way.
Fairy Tales from BrazilElsie Spicer Eells
armadillo
- 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
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Word Origin
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
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Word Origin and History for 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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper