Edentate
/iːˈdɛn.teɪt/noun
Having no teeth; toothless, especially used in zoology for certain mammals.
Did you know?The word comes from Latin roots meaning ‘without teeth,’ and it was once used as a formal zoological label for animals like anteaters and armadillos, turning a body feature into a taxonomic identity.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
edentātus
“toothless; lacking teeth”
Late Latin
Latin
edentatus
“without teeth”
17th Century
English
edentate
“toothless; lacking teeth”
19th Century
English
Edentata
“a zoological group of toothless mammals”
Modern English
English
edentate
“lacking teeth; toothless”