An armadillo is a small animal whose body is covered with large bony scales and which rolls itself into a ball when it is attacked. Armadillos are mainly found in South and Central America.
armadillo in British English
(ˌɑːməˈdɪləʊ)
nounWord forms: plural-los
1.
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
2. fairy armadillo
Word origin
C16: from Spanish, diminutive of armado armed (man), from Latin armātus armed; compare armada
armadillo in American English
(ˌɑrməˈdɪloʊ)
nounWord forms: pluralˌarmaˈdillos
any of a family (Dasypodidae) of burrowing edentate mammals with an armorlike coveringof bony plates, ranging from the S U.S. to Argentina: they are mostly nocturnal, and a few species roll up into a ball when attacked
Word origin
Sp, dim. of armado, armored < L armatus: see armada