porcupine

American  

[pawr-kyuh-pahyn] / ˈpɔr kyəˌpaɪn /

noun

1. any of several rodents covered with stiff, sharp, erectile spines or quills, as Erethizon dorsatum of North America.

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porcupine British  

/ ˈpɔːkjʊˌpaɪn /

noun

1. any of various large hystricomorph rodents of the families Hystricidae, of Africa, Indonesia, S Europe, and S Asia, and Erethizontidae, of the New World. All species have a body covering of protective spines or quills

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Other Word Forms

• porcupinish adjective
• porcupiny adjective

Etymology

Origin of porcupine

1375–1425; late Middle English porcupyne, variant of porcapyne; replacing porke despyne < Middle French porc d'espine thorny pig. See pork, spine

Example Sentences

According to reports at the time there were some clues, including the discovery of straw bedding with porcupine quills in it.

From BBC • Feb. 13, 2025

"One thing that isn't resolved by our study is whether these extinct species are direct ancestors of the North American porcupine that is alive today," Vitek said.

From Science Daily • May 28, 2024

A new study published in the journal Current Biology claims to have reconciled the dispute, thanks to an exceptionally rare, nearly complete porcupine skeleton discovered in Florida.

From Science Daily • May 28, 2024

Whether you’re a pedestrian or a porcupine, you live in the thrall of roads.

From Slate • May 25, 2024

The porcupine was close enough that he could discern the individual quills, slender and sharp.

From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull