porcupine

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noun por·cu·pine \ˈpȯr-kyə-ˌpīn\

Definition of porcupine

plural

porcupines

also

porcupine

: 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)

See porcupine defined for English-language learners

See porcupine defined for kids

Recent Examples of porcupine from the Web

Each contrada is represented by a mascot (porcupine, unicorn, she-wolf, and so on) and a distinctive flag — colors worn and flown all year long, but omnipresent as the race nears.

— rick steves, miamiherald, "Siena’s Palio: 500 years of history in 90 seconds," 14 July 2017
While the boys took in the view at Glacier — its massive glaciers shrouded in glistening white snow — porcupines chewed flat all four of the hearse’s tires.

— craig r. mccoy / staff writer, Philly.com, "Horror on the mountain," 12 July 2017
Two 20kg nocturnal porcupines had been tracked to their tunnel system in a termite mound.

— tim spector, CNN, "I spent three days as a hunter-gatherer to see if it would improve my gut health," 5 July 2017
My family has lived in our suburban home for seven years, and from the minute a few neighbors whispered that the former tenant died in our house, I’ve been bristled up like a porcupine.

— by stacey hatton, kansascity.com, "Show them who’s boss by letting the smudging begin," 30 June 2017
An empty porcupine pen provides a temporary safe haven.

— atlanta life, ajc, "Thriller chronicles parent’s worst nightmare," 30 June 2017
Comments range from photos of hedgehogs and porcupines to photos from Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century.

— sarah wu, Allure, "This Video of Guys Getting Frosted Tips Went Viral," 28 June 2017
Comments range from photos of hedgehogs and porcupines to photos of Zenon.

— sarah wu, Teen Vogue, "Frosted Tips Video Goes Viral on Facebook," 27 June 2017
Our kids need to see a skunk or a porcupine in the wild.

— roger simmons, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Police ask for end of $2 million treasure hunt following deaths of former Orlando man, Colorado pastor," 22 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'porcupine.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Illustration of porcupine

Origin and Etymology of porcupine

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

Porcupine

geographical name por·cu·pine

Definition of Porcupine

river 448 miles (721 kilometers) long in northern Yukon and northeastern Alaska flowing north and west into the Yukon River

PORCUPINE Defined for English Language Learners

porcupine

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noun

Definition of porcupine for English Language Learners

: a small animal that has very stiff, sharp parts (called quills) all over its body

PORCUPINE Defined for Kids

porcupine

play

noun por·cu·pine \ˈpȯr-kyə-ˌpīn\

Definition of porcupine for Students

: a gnawing slow-moving animal that is a large rodent and has stiff sharp quills among its hairs

History for porcupine

The porcupine is certainly not a source of pork, but the word pork and the porc- in the word porcupine both come ultimately from Latin porcus, “pig, hog.” Porcupine was modified from a compound word in Romance languages such as medieval French porc espin, literally, “spiny pig.” (The espin part comes from Latin spina, “thorn, spine.”)