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Added 9 October 2026

porcupine

/ˈpɔː(ɹ)kjʊˌpaɪn/ noun

In Latin: hystrix Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about porcupine at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Any of several rodents of either of the taxonomic families Hystricidae (Old World porcupines) or Erethizontidae (New World porcupines), both from the infraorder Hystricognathi, noted for their sharp spines or quills, which are raised when the animal is attacked or surprised.
An echidna.

Origin

From Middle English porke despyne, from Old French porc-espin, from Latin porcus (“pig”) + spinus (“spine”), hence also spine pig. Cognate with Spanish puercoespín, Italian porcospino, Portuguese porco-espinho.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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