porcupine

noun

por·​cu·​pine ˈpȯr-kyə-ˌpīn 

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)

Illustration of porcupine

Examples of porcupine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The camera traps also picked up images of 17 other mammal species, ranging from caracal cats and porcupines to honey badgers and bushpigs, the family said. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 13 May 2025

The improvements in the works include: The addition of coyotes and porcupines, two new species for Maymont plus habitats for them. —Karri Peifer, Axios, 28 Feb. 2025

Other examples of plantigrade mammals include humans, raccoons, wolverines, badgers, porcupines, and rabbits. —Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 21 Feb. 2025

In defense, the porcupine repeatedly backed into its attacker, piercing it with many quills. —Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing porcupine

• porcupine fish

Rhymes for porcupine

• acridine
• alkaline
• andesine
• anodyne
• anticline
• arginine
• asinine
• atropine
• benzidine
• borderline
• byzantine
• calamine

Kids Definition

porcupine

noun

por·​cu·​pine ˈpȯr-kyə-ˌpīn 

: any of various rather large slow-moving mostly plant-eating rodents with stiff sharp quills among the hairs on the body

Etymology

Middle English porke despyne "porcupine," from early French porc espin, literally, "thorny pig," derived from Latin porcus "pig" and spina "spine, prickle" — related to pork, porpoise, spine see Word History at porpoise

Geographical Definition

Porcupine

geographical name

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