pan·go·lin

(păng′gə-lĭn, păn′-)

Any of several long-tailed, scale-covered mammals of the order Pholidota of tropical Africa and Asia, having a long snout and a sticky tongue for catching and eating ants and termites. Also called scaly anteater.

[Malay pengguling, something that rolls up : peng-, n. pref. + -guling, to roll (from its habit of rolling up into a ball when frightened).]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

pangolin

(pæŋˈɡəʊlɪn)

(Animals) 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

[C18: from Malay peng-gōling, from gōling to roll over; from its ability to roll into a ball]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

pan•go•lin

(ˈpæŋ gə lɪn, pæŋˈgoʊ-)

n.

any mammal of the order Pholidota, of Africa and tropical Asia, having a covering of broad, overlapping, horny scales and feeding on ants and termites. Also called scaly anteater.

[1765–75; < dial. or bazaar Malay pengguling literally, one who rolls up = Malay peng- agentive prefix + guling roll up or around; so called from its habit of curling into a ball when threatened]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

pangolin - toothless mammal of southern Africa and Asia having a body covered with horny scales and a long snout for feeding on ants and termites

anteater, scaly anteater

eutherian, eutherian mammal, placental, placental mammal - mammals having a placenta; all mammals except monotremes and marsupials

genus Manis, Manis - type genus of the Manidae

Translations

pangolin

pangolin