English Explanatory Dictionary

porcupine

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Any of several rodents of either of the taxonomic families Hystricidae (Old World porcupines) or Erethizontidae (New World porcupines), both from the infraorder Hystricognathi, noted for their sharp spines or quills, which are raised when the animal is attacked or surprised.

Pronunciation

/ˈpɔː(ɹ)kjʊˌpaɪn/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-porcupine.wav /ˈpɔː(ɹ)kiˌpaɪn/ /ˈpɔː(ɹ)kɪˌpaɪn/ /ˈpɔː(ɹ)kəˌpaɪn/

Word forms

porcupine porcupines porpentine porpintine

Etymology

From Middle English porke despyne, from Old French porc-espin, from Latin porcus (“pig”) + spinus (“spine”), hence also spine pig. Cognate with Spanish puercoespín, Italian porcospino, Portuguese porco-espinho.

Synonyms

spine pig porky

Related words

porcine porcupette porcus porky porpentine echidna hedgehog spiny anteater urchin urson

Derived words

African brush-tailed porcupine African crested porcupine Andean porcupine Bahia porcupine bicolored-spined porcupine black dwarf porcupine black-tailed hairy dwarf porcupine Brazilian porcupine bristle-spined porcupine brown hairy dwarf porcupine brush-tailed porcupine Canada porcupine Canadian porcupine Cape porcupine common porcupine crested porcupine frosted hairy dwarf porcupine Koopman's porcupine Mexican hairy dwarf porcupine Mexican tree porcupine New World porcupine North American porcupine Old World porcupine orange-spined hairy dwarf porcupine Paraguaian hairy dwarf porcupine Porcs Porcupine Abyssal Plain porcupine anole Porcupine Bank porcupine caribou porcupine crab Porcupine Creek porcupine family porcupinefish porcupine fish Porcupine Flat Campground porcupine flower Porcupine Freedom Festival Porcupine Gold Rush Porcupine Gorge National Park Queensland Australia porcupine grass Porcupine Hills Porcupine Lake Porcupine Mall Porcupine Meadows Provincial Park British Columbia Canada Porcupine Mountains Michigan Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park Porcupine Ontario Porcupine Plain Saskatchewan porcupine puffer Porcupine River Porcupine Seabight South Dakota
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