Meanings
plural glyptodons
- biologyA member of the genus Glyptodon of extinct giant armadillos.
Statues of beasts stood with their backs to the four walls of the court, eyes turned to watch the canted dial: hulking barylambdas; arctothers, the monarchs of bears; glyptodons; smilodons with fangs like glaives.
1980, Gene Wolfe, chapter IV, in The Shadow of the Torturer (The Book of the New Sun; 1), New York: Simon & Schuster, →ISBN, page 431 more example
The more striking phenomena first and most strongly impress the mind, which contrasts for example, the great Cave-Bears of Europe with the actual Brown Bear, the Megatheriods of South America with the small existing sloths, and the gigantic Glyptodons with the Armadillos.
1851 June 11, The Geelong Advertiser, Victoria, page 1, column 2
Synonyms & antonyms
nounSynonym of glyptodontid.
Origin
From the New Latin genus name Glyptodon (from Ancient Greek Ancient Greek γλυπτός (gluptós, “sculptured”) + -odon (“tooth”), 'grooved or carved tooth').
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
glyptodon. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/glyptodon
“glyptodon.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/glyptodon. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “glyptodon,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/glyptodon.
Source: glyptodon on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.