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 new species was mistaken as the Quichua porcupine, or Coendou quichua, for decades. —Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2025

Except, apparently, for an actual moose or an actual porcupine. —Jen Chaney, Vulture, 2 Aug. 2024

Silver forks that fused into a thick, lumpy utensil, its prongs fanning out like a porcupine’s needles. —Heather Knight, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2025

Sweet gums drop a fruit that is small and spherical and bristling with sharp points like a porcupine the size of a golf ball. —John McPhee, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025

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

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