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

Explanation

A porcupine is a prickly rodent, a round forest animal that's covered in sharp, protective quills. How do you pet a porcupine? Very, very carefully. Porcupine comes from Latin roots, porcus, "pig," and spina, "spine or quill." Fittingly, a regional name for the porcupine is "quill pig." The porcupine is famous for its spines, which become spikier when it's afraid or angry. Less well known is the fact that porcupines also clatter their teeth loudly as a warning — all the more reason for your dog to feel embarrassed after she ends up with a nose full of porcupine quills.

Example Sentences

Opening dates for Bridalveil Creek, Porcupine Flat and Tuolumne Meadows campgrounds has not yet been announced.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2025

Nante Niemi said he was helping relatives gather wood at the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula when an uncle told him to return to camp last Saturday afternoon.

From Seattle Times • May 11, 2023

Nante Niemi went missing on Saturday while camping with his family in the Porcupine Mountains state park.

From BBC • May 10, 2023

Michigan State Police said Nante Niemi, 8, was in good health after spending two days alone in the Porcupine Mountain Wilderness State Park in the state’s Upper Peninsula.

From Washington Times • May 9, 2023

“More coyote tracks. Porcupine scat. And the newest snow was so dry that whenever some slid off a high tree branch, it was like shining bits of gold shimmering down in the sunlight.”

From "The Benefits of Being an Octopus" by Ann Braden