Pangolins
/ˈpæŋ.ɡə.lɪnz/noun
Pangolins are scaly anteaters found in Asia and Africa, known for their distinctive armor of keratin scales.
Did you know?The name 'pangolin' comes from the Malay word for 'to roll up', reflecting their fascinating defense mechanism against predators.
Etymological Timeline
Old Malay
Malay
penggulung
“a roller or something that curls up.”
16th Century
Portuguese
pangolim
“derived from Malay, referring to the scaly anteater.”
17th Century
English
pangolin
“adopted from Portuguese, describing the same creature.”
Modern English
English
pangolins
“the plural form, used to denote the species.”