Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Armadillo"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Armadillo \Ar`ma*dil"lo\ ([aum]r`m[.a]*d[i^]l"l[-o]), n.; pl.
{Armadillos} (-l[=o]z). [Sp. armadillo, dim. of armado armed,
p. p. of armar to arm. So called from being armed with a bony
shell.] (Zo["o]l.)
(a) Any edentate animal if the family {Dasypid[ae]}, peculiar
to America. The body and head are incased in an armor
composed of small bony plates. The armadillos burrow in
the earth, seldom going abroad except at night. When
attacked, they curl up into a ball, presenting the armor
on all sides. Their flesh is good food. There are several
species, one of which (the peba) is found as far north as
Texas. See {Peba}, {Poyou}, {Tatouay}.
(b) A genus of small isopod Crustacea that can roll
themselves into a ball.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
armadillo
n : burrowing chiefly nocturnal mammal with body covered with
strong horny plates
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