echidna
Syllabification: (e·chid·na)
Pronunciation: /əˈkidnə/
Definition of echidna
noun
- a spiny insectivorous egg-laying mammal with a long snout and claws, native to Australia and New Guinea. Also called spiny anteater.
- Family Tachyglossidae, order Monotremata: two genera and species, in particular Tachyglossus aculeatus
Origin:
mid 19th century: modern Latin, from Greek ekhidna 'viper', also the name of a mythical creature that gave birth to the many-headed Hydra; compare with ekhinos 'sea urchin, hedgehog'
