porcupine

noun por·cu·pine \ ˈpȯr-kyə-ˌpīn \

Updated on: 18 Apr 2018

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)

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Recent Examples of porcupine from the Web

Experienced dog handlers work one-on-one with each dog owner and their dog to train the dog to avoid the sight, smell and sound of rattlesnakes, skunks and porcupines.

— idahostatesman, "Bird walks are ready to take flight this month | Idaho Statesman," 11 Apr. 2018
Experienced dog handlers work one-on-one with each dog owner and their dog to train the dog to avoid the sight, smell and sound of rattlesnakes, skunks and porcupines.

— idahostatesman, "A guided hike at Squaw Butte among upcoming outdoors events | Idaho Statesman," 26 Mar. 2018
Ann Bryant, executive director of the Bear League, holds her porcupine Maude at her home in Homewood.

— ryan sabalow and ed fletcher, sacbee, "Tahoe bears are breaking into homes with people inside. Should the animals be killed? | The Sacramento Bee," 16 Mar. 2018
Experienced dog handlers work one-on-one with each dog owner and their dog to trian the dog to avoid the sight, smell and sound of rattlesnakes, skunks and porcupines.

— idahostatesman, "Researchers will talk about the health of South Fork salmon | Idaho Statesman," 14 Mar. 2018
Living animals tend to have tails with weapons that are made of keratin, like the quills of a porcupine or the scales of a pangolin.

— nicholas st. fleur, New York Times, "Where Did Animals With Tail Weapons Go? Here’s a Back Story," 16 Jan. 2018
Though porcupines have quills and some lizards lash their tails when threatened, neither animal has the bony armaments seen millions of years ago.

— nicholas st. fleur, New York Times, "Where Did Animals With Tail Weapons Go? Here’s a Back Story," 16 Jan. 2018
Her charges include five rabbits, two ducks, four chickens, two cats, guinea pig, barred owl, porcupine, hedgehog, three ferrets, three snakes and three turtles.

— meg jones, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Milwaukee's zoo animals celebrate the holidays like humans — ripping open gifts," 13 Dec. 2017
Toward the end of this season, an ever-growing porcupine of prickly gray and black beard hair was glued to his face as his character went further on the lam.

— Esquire, "Pablo Escobar Was a Horrible Man. But He Was an Interesting Person.," 29 Aug. 2016

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

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First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

Porcupine

geographical name

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

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

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.”)

Learn More about porcupine

See words that rhyme with porcupine Spanish Central: Translation of porcupine Nglish: Translation of porcupine for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of porcupine for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about porcupine

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