numbat

noun

num·​bat ˈnəm-ˌbat How to pronounce numbat (audio)
plural -s
: a small Australian marsupial (Myrmecobius fasciatus of the family Myrmecobiidae) that has a reddish-brown coat with white stripes on the back, a pointed snout, and a long slender tongue used to feed chiefly on termites

called also banded anteater

Word History

Etymology

native name in Australia

First Known Use

circa 1845, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of numbat was circa 1845

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Cite this Entry

“Numbat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/numbat. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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