pangolin
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of pangolin
1765–75; < Malay pengguling (dial. or bazaar Malay name for the animal) one who rolls up, equivalent to peng- agentive prefix + guling roll up or around; so called from its habit of curling into a ball when threatened
Explanation
A pangolin is an animal also known as a "scaly anteater." Though they're endangered, pangolins can still be found in parts of Africa, China, Southeast Asia, and India. Pangolins are distinctive for their scaly skin and the way they react to threats by curling up into a ball. Though they appear to be covered in large scales, pangolins aren't reptiles, and in fact, their skin is very different from reptilian scales; it's made of keratin, the same material that makes up our fingernails. Pangolins are sometimes described as resembling pinecones, particularly when the animals roll into a protective ball. The name pangolin comes from the Malay peng-goling, "roller."
Vocabulary lists containing pangolin
Southeast Asia - Introductory
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
East Asia - Middle School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
East Asia - Introductory
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
At a South African rescue centre, a pangolin pup rests wrapped in a blanket.
From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026
A well-deserved Oscar followed, along with a supporting role in Disney’s “American Born Chinese” adaptation, as the voice of a pangolin in “King Fu Panda 4” and as the MCU’s Ouroboros in “Loki.”
From Salon • Feb. 7, 2025
They might paint an elephant tusk black, or try to make pangolin scales look like candy or chocolate.
From NewsForKids.net • Nov. 28, 2024
People who received only the vaccines targeting the original SARS-CoV-2 variant developed some cross-reactive antibodies that neutralized the pangolin coronavirus and SARS-1 virus, but the levels were low.
From Science Daily • May 17, 2024
Manis, mā′nis, n. the pangolin or scaly ant-eater.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
