Pangolin
/ˈpæŋɡə.lɪn/noun
A nocturnal scaly anteater found mainly in Asia and Africa.
Did you know?In ancient folklore, pangolins were believed to be protectors of the forest and were associated with the mystical powers of transformation due to their unique scales.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*paŋʲgʰ-
“to touch or to handle”
Old Tamil
Tamil
பங்கொளி (paṅkoḷi)
“a term referring to the pangolin, possibly related to its handling ability”
Malay
Malay
pengguling
“to roll or curl up, reflecting the pangolin's defense mechanism”
19th Century
English
pangolin
“adopted from the Malay term, denoting the scaly anteater known for its unique protective behavior”