noun
wombat
WAHM-bat/ˈwɑːmbæt/
A short-legged, burrowing marsupial native to Australia.
The wombat scrapes soil beside its burrow.
Etymology
Womback, also recorded as wombar, supplied an Aboriginal name for this Australian marsupial. The source identifies the animal name but gives no further breakdown of its meaning.
In context
a wombat mother's pouch is lined with moist skin and provides a constantly warm environment for the growing Joey
More examples
- A stocky wombat crossed the path.
- The exhibit explained the wombat’s backward-facing pouch.
- The wombat dug with its strong forelegs.
Forms
wombat · wombats
Similar words
- koala
- A koala is a tree-dwelling marsupial; a wombat is a stocky ground-dwelling burrower.
- badger
- A badger is also a stout burrower but is a placental mammal, not a marsupial.