har·ma·dil·lo
[ˌhärməˈdilō]
noun
harmadillo (noun) · harmadillos (plural noun)
a nocturnal omnivorous mammal of unknown origin that has glowing red eyes, large claws – possibly for digging, but mainly for mutilation and destruction, and a body covered in bony plates. Harmadillos are suspected to be native to the south central US, but have been seen in other geographical regions.
Origin
Portmanteau – possibly late 16th century: from Spanish, diminutive of armado ‘armed man’, from Latin armatus, past participle of armare ‘to arm’ and Old English hearm (noun), hearmian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to German Harm and Old Norse harmr ‘grief, sorrow’. Additional roots suggest from Nahuatl ‘tenahualpoloani’, one who is cunning and harmful.