ARMADILLO


Meaning of ARMADILLO in English

n. (pl. -os) any nocturnal insect-eating mammal of the family Dasypodidae, native to Central and S. America, with large claws for digging and a body covered in bony plates, often rolling itself into a ball when threatened.

[ Sp. dimin. of armado armed man f. L armatus past part. of armare ARM(2) ]

Concise Oxford English dictionary.      Краткий оксфордский словарь английского языка.