echidna

[ ih-kid-nuh ]
/ ɪˈkɪd nə /

noun

Also called spiny anteater. any of several insectivorous monotremes of the genera Tachyglossus, of Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea, and Zaglossus, of New Guinea, that have claws and a slender snout and are covered with coarse hair and long spines.

Origin of echidna

< New Latin (1798), originally a genus name; Latin: serpent, Echidna a mythical creature which gave birth to the Hydra and other monsters < Greek échidna, akin to échis viper

Example sentences from the Web for echidna

British Dictionary definitions for echidna

echidna
/ (ɪˈkɪdnə) /

noun plural -nas or -nae (-niː)

any of the spine-covered monotreme mammals of the genera Tachyglossus of Australia and Zaglossus of New Guinea: family Tachyglossidae. They have a long snout and claws for hunting ants and termites Also called: spiny anteater

Word Origin for echidna

C19: from New Latin, from Latin: viper, from Greek ekhidna