numbat

[ nuhm-bat ]

noun

1. banded anteater.

numbat

/ ˈnʌmˌbæt /

noun

1. a small Australian marsupial, Myrmecobius fasciatus, having a long snout and tongue and strong claws for hunting and feeding on termites: family Dasyuridae Also calledbanded anteater

Word History and Origins

Origin of numbat¹

First recorded in 1920–25, numbat is from the Nyungar word numbat

Word History and Origins

Origin of numbat¹

C20: from a native Australian language

Example Sentences

The numbat - a small and little-known Australian marsupial - is one of the world's most endangered animals.

From BBC

The smaller numbat, once widespread, clings on in only a few colonies in Western Australia.

From Economist

The white and the black cockatoo are common to the three colonies, as are many kinds of the smaller parrots, the kangaroo, and the kangaroo-rat, the numbat, the opossum, the native cat, and many others.

From Project Gutenberg