A porcupine is an animal with many long, thin, sharp spikes on its back that stick out as protection when it is attacked.
porcupine in British English
(ˈpɔːkjʊˌpaɪn)
noun
any of various large hystricomorph rodents of the families Hystricidae, of Africa, Indonesia, S Europe, and S Asia, and Erethizontidae, of the New World. All species have a body covering of protective spines or quills
Derived forms
porcupinish (ˈporcuˌpinish)
adjective
porcupiny (ˈporcuˌpiny)
adjective
Word origin
C14 porc despyne pig with spines, from Old French porc espin; see pork, spine
Porcupine in American English
(ˈpɔrkjəˌpaɪn)
river in N Yukon Territory, Canada, flowing into the Yukon River in NE Alas.: 590 mi (949 km)
Word origin
descriptive
porcupine in American English
(ˈpɔrkjəˌpaɪn)
nounWord forms: pluralˈporcuˌpines or ˈporcuˌpine
any of a terrestrial Old World family (Hystricidae) or an arboreal New World family (Erethizontidae) of rodents, having coarse hair mixed with long, stiff, sharp spines that can be erected
Word origin
ME porkepyn < MFr porc espin, spinous hog, spine hog < OIt porcospino < L porcus, pig (see farrow1) + spine
any of various plectognath fishes of the genus Diodon and related genera, of temperate and tropical seas, having a body that is covered with sharp spines and can be inflated into a globe : family Diodontidae
porcupine grass
any of various coarse spiny-leaved inland grasses of the genus Triodia
porcupine provisions
provisions, such as poison pills or staggered directorships, made in the bylaws of a company to deter takeover bids
porcupinefish
any of a family (Diodontidae, order Tetraodontiformes) of tropical , marine bony fishes that can erect the long spines on their body by inflating themselves with air or water
spinifex
any of various coarse spiny-leaved inland grasses of the genus Triodia