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

William Mulholland, the man who brought in Owens Valley water in 1913, told a committee that sought his candidacy: “Gentlemen, I would rather give birth to a porcupine backwards than be mayor of Los Angeles.”

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

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

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

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

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