porcupine

[pawr-kyuh-pahyn]

noun

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

porcupine

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• porcupinish adjective
• porcupiny adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of porcupine¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of porcupine¹

C14 porc despyne pig with spines, from Old French porc espin; see _pork , _spine

Example Sentences

They lack the adorable charisma of chinchillas, porcupines, moles or rats, though.

From Salon

The machine that cuts the stone looks a little bit like a giant porcupine.

From BBC

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

From BBC

A bloodied but determined honey badger pursues a Cape porcupine in Botswana.

From BBC

BBC Scotland News understands bedding was discovered with porcupine quills in the straw.

From BBC