armadillan.

1685 B. Ringrose Bucaniers Amer. iv. vi. 29 The Admiral of the Armadilla, or Little Fleet, came up with us suddainly.

1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. Armadilla, in the Spanish America, denotes a squadron of men of war, to the number of six or eight.

1786 Novelist's Mag. 21 267/2 The armadilla, or little armada, sails annually from hence to Africa.

1797 Encycl. Brit. II. 330/2 The South Sea has its armadilla as well as the North Sea.

1905 Census of Philippine Islands 1903 I. 353 In order to defend the local shipping and coast towns from the pirates..armadas and armadillas (small squadrons or fleets) were fitted out.

1956 J. H. Parry et al. Short Hist. W. Indies iii. 36 Armadillas—cruiser squadrons—were to be permanently based in the West Indies to seek out and attack corsairs upon their arrival in the area.

2007 B. Little Buccaneer's Realm xxi. 207 In 1685, Spain created the Armada de Vizcaínos, a Biscayan armadilla of four ships intended to cruise for Caribbean pirates.

1695 tr. G. de Courtilz de Sandras Life John Baptist Colbert 192 Two Armadilla's [Fr. deux des Navires Armadilles] that were unrigg'd, began to put themselves in a posture of Defence, assoon as the Squadron appear'd, but resolv'd to stay in the Harbour.

1697 W. Dampier New Voy. around World iii. 30 In company of 11 Armadilloes (which are small Vessels of War).

1855 G. W. Thornbury Monarchs of Main III. i. 72 While at La Puna, the Buccaneers sallied out to attack two Spanish armadillas.

1896 ‘Q’ et al. Story of Sea II. 505 The man-of-war—the Capitana by name, an armadilla of twenty four, with a crew of 200 men.

1904 Eng. Illustr. Mag. July 396/2 As we looked, she ran up the Spanish colours; an armadilla, probably the vessel Adams had sighted, hovering all the time not far away.