armadillo

n.; pl. Armadillos [ Sp. armadillo, dim. of armado armed, p. p. of armar to arm. So called from being armed with a bony shell. ] (Zool.) (a) Any edentate animal if the family Dasypidæ, 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. [ 1913 Webster ]