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 called: scaly anteater
Word origin
C18: from Malay peng-gōling, from gōling to roll over; from its ability to roll into a ball
pangolin in American English
(ˈpængoʊlɪn; ˈpæŋgoʊlɪn; pænˈgoʊlɪn; pæŋˈgoʊlɪn)
noun
any of an order (Pholidota) of toothless, scaly mammals of Asia and Africa, feeding on ants and termites and able to roll into a ball when attacked; scaly anteater