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armadillo

(är′mə dil′ō)

any of a family (Dasypodidae) of burrowing edentate mammals with an armorlike covering of 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

Origin: Sp, dim. of armado, armored < L armatus: see armada

See armadillo in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. ar·ma·dil·los

Any of several omnivorous, burrowing, edentate mammals (family Dasypodidae), native to southern North America and South America and characterized by an armorlike covering consisting of jointed bony plates.

Origin:

Origin: Spanish

Origin: , diminutive of armado, armored, past participle of armar, to arm

Origin: , from Latin armāre

Origin: , from arma, arms; see ar- in Indo-European roots

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