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pangolin

 - 3 dictionary results

pan⋅go⋅lin

  [pang-guh-lin, pang-goh-]
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–noun
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.

Origin:
1765–75; < Malay pengguling (dial. or bazaar Malay name for the animal) one who rolls up, equiv. to peng- agentive prefix + guling roll up or around; so called from its habit of curling into a ball when threatened
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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pan·go·lin   (pāng'gə-lĭn, pān'-)   
n.  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 : peng-, instrumental pref. + guling, to roll over (from its habit of rolling up into a ball when frightened).]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

pangolin 
1774, "scaly toothless mammal of Java," from Malay peng-goling "roller," from its habit of curling into a ball; from peng- (denominative prefix) + goling "to roll." Later extended to related species in Asia and Africa.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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