Main Entry: por·cu·pine

Pronunciation: \ˈpȯr-kyə-ˌpīn\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural porcupines also porcupine

Etymology: Middle English porke despyne, from Middle French porc espin, from Old Italian porcospino, from Latin porcus pig + spina spine, prickle

Date: 15th century

: any of various relatively large slow-moving chiefly herbivorous rodents having sharp erectile spines mingled with the hair and constituting an Old World terrestrial family (Hystricidae) and a New World chiefly arboreal family (Erethizontidae)

[porcupine illustration]