armadillo
UK[ˌɑːməˈdɪləʊ]US[ˌɑːrməˈdɪloʊ]
n
A small animal that lives in the Americas and has a hard shell made of pieces of bone, which it uses to protect itself from enemies.
Morpheme Breakdown
armad
illo
armad
armed
illo
diminutive suffix
Etymology
The word 'armadillo' is a direct borrowing from Spanish, where it literally means "the little armored one". It is formed from 'armado' (armed/armored), derived from the Latin verb 'armare' (to equip with weapons or armor), combined with the diminutive suffix '-illo'. Spanish explorers in the Americas named the creature for its distinctive protective bony plates, which resemble a suit of armor. The term perfectly captures the animal's defining characteristic—a small, armored mammal.
Analysis
Structure: armad (armed) + illo (diminutive suffix)
- armad: From Spanish 'armado', meaning "armed" or "armored". Origin: Latin 'armatus', past participle of 'armare' (to arm).
- illo: A Spanish diminutive suffix, indicating smallness or endearment. Origin: Latin '-illus'.
Examples
The armadillo curled into a tight ball when it sensed danger.
We spotted an armadillo digging for insects in the backyard.
The nine-banded armadillo is the state small mammal of Texas.