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]