pangolin

[ pang-guh-lin, pang-goh- ]

noun

1. any mammal of the order Pholidota, of Africa and tropical Asia, having a covering of broad, overlapping, horny scales and feeding on ants and termites.

pangolin

/ pæŋˈɡəʊlɪn /

noun

1. any mammal of the order Pholidota found in tropical Africa, S Asia, and Indonesia, having a body covered with overlapping horny scales and a long snout specialized for feeding on ants and termites Also calledscaly anteater

Word History and Origins

Origin of pangolin¹

1765–75; < Malay pengguling (dial. or bazaar Malay name for the animal) one who rolls up, equivalent to peng- agentive prefix + guling roll up or around; so called from its habit of curling into a ball when threatened

Word History and Origins

Origin of pangolin¹

C18: from Malay peng-gōling, from gōling to roll over; from its ability to roll into a ball

Example Sentences

The team compared changes in the building blocks, or amino acids, of the virus’ spike protein with four coronaviruses from bats or pangolins that don’t infect people.

From Science News

The pangolin papers, published in quick succession in early 2020, were a promising start.

From MIT Technology Review

He felt accused, but he wondered what he was being accused of, since his paper had correctly accounted for its pangolin data sources.

From MIT Technology Review

A wild-animal trader who caught a strange new virus from a frozen pangolin.

From MIT Technology Review

Five serval cats also call the refuge home, plus a constant stream of pangolins, the world’s most trafficked animal.

From Washington Post

In their belts they carried several knives, while the musket and the little round cap of pangolin skin completed their equipment.

From Project Gutenberg

The climbing species have a small bare patch on the under side of the tail near the tip (see Pangolin).

From Project Gutenberg

This ant-eater is known as the “pangolin,” or “manis,” but there are several species of “pangolin” not African.

From Project Gutenberg

Lastly, the pangolin (Manis) is represented by two species in the eastern Himalaya.

From Project Gutenberg