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Webster 1913 Edition

Hedgehog

Hedge′hogˊ

,
Noun.
1.
(Zool.)
A small European insectivore (
Erinaceus Europaeus
), and other allied species of Asia and Africa, having the hair on the upper part of its body mixed with prickles or spines. It is able to roll itself into a ball so as to present the spines outwardly in every direction. It is nocturnal in its habits, feeding chiefly upon insects.
2.
(Zool.)
The Canadian porcupine.
[U.S]
3.
(Bot.)
A species of
Medicago
(
Medicago intertexta
), the pods of which are armed with short spines; – popularly so called.
Loudon.
4.
A form of dredging machine.
Knight.
Hedgehog caterpillar
(Zool.)
,
the hairy larvae of several species of bombycid moths, as of the Isabella moth. It curls up like a hedgehog when disturbed. See
Woolly bear
, and
Isabella moth
.
–
Hedgehog fish
(Zool.)
,
any spinose plectognath fish, esp. of the genus
Diodon
; the porcupine fish.
–
Hedgehog grass
(Bot.)
,
a grass with spiny involucres, growing on sandy shores; burgrass (
Cenchrus tribuloides
).
–
Hedgehog rat
(Zool.)
,
one of several West Indian rodents, allied to the porcupines, but with ratlike tails, and few quills, or only stiff bristles. The hedgehog rats belong to
Capromys
,
Plagiodon
, and allied genera.
–
Hedgehog shell
(Zool.)
,
any spinose, marine, univalve shell of the genus
Murex
.
–
Hedgehog thistle
(Bot.)
,
a plant of the Cactus family, globular in form, and covered with spines (
Echinocactus
).
–
Sea hedgehog
.
See
Diodon
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Hedgehog

HEDGEHOG

,
Noun.
A quadruped, or genus of quadrupeds, the Erinaceus. The common hedgehog has round ears, and crested nostrils; his body is about nine inches long, and the upper part is covered with prickles or spines, and the under part with hair. When attacked, this animal erects his prickles and rolls himself into a round form, which presents the points of the prickles on all sides to an assailant.
1.
A term of reproach.
2.
A plant of the genus Medicago, or snail-trefoil. The seeds are shaped like a snail, downy, and armed with a few short spines.
3.
The globe-fish, orbis echinatus.
This fish belongs to the genus Diodon. It is covered with long spines, and has the power of inflating its body, whence the name globe-fish.
The Sea-hedgehog, is the Echinus, a genus of Zoophytes, generally of a spheroidal or oval form, and covered with movable spines.

Definition 2024

hedgehog

hedgehog

English

a hedgehog (mammal)
(Erinaceus europaeus)
hedgehog mortar
hedgehog-type dredge cutter
Medicago intertexta pods (G)
hedgehog transformer

Noun

hedgehog ‎(plural hedgehogs)

  1. A small mammal, of the family Erinaceidae or subfamily Erinaceinae (spiny hedgehogs, the latter characterized by their spiny back and often by the habit of rolling up into a ball when attacked.
  2. A type of moveable military barricade made from crossed logs or steel bars, laced with barbed wire, used to damage or impede tanks and vehicles; Czech hedgehog.
  3. The nickname for a spigot mortar-type of depth charge weapon from World War II that simultaneously fires a number of explosives into the water to create a pattern of underwater explosions intended to attack submerged submarines.
  4. (Australia) A type of chocolate cake (or slice), somewhat similar to an American brownie.
    • 2005, Paul Mitchell, The Favourite, Frank Moorhouse, The Best Australian Stories 2005, page 145,
      There are hedgehogs with sultanas as well as breadcrumbs, carrot cakes and fruitcakes and banana walnut loaves.
    • 2008, Lili Wilkinson, The Not Quite Perfect Boyfriend, unnumbered page,
      I am so flustered that I order a vanilla slice instead of hedgehog.
    • 2009, Adam Shand, The Skull: Informers, Hit Men and Australia's Toughest Cop, page 199,
      His wife had made a hedgehog cake and he offered some but Murphy refused – his mouth was so dry with terror he couldn′t swallow.
  5. A form of dredging machine.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Knight to this entry?)
    • 1868, "Dredging," article in Charles Tomlinson (editor), Cyclopædia of Useful Arts, Mechanical and Chemical, Manufactures, Mining, and Engineering, Volume 1, page 520,
      The first machines merely loosened, but did not raise the stuff, a scouring being afterwards effected by means of sluices. These machines consisted of large bars or prongs placed vertically in a frame, and being fastened to a barge placed in the line of the sluices, the whole was inpelled forward by the current, thereby scouring the bed. Such a machine, called a hedgehog, is still used in Lincolnshire.
  6. The flowering plant Medicago intertexta, the pods of which are armed with short spines.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Loudon to this entry?)
  7. A kind of electrical transformer with open magnetic circuit, the ends of the iron wire core being turned outward and presenting a bristling appearance.

Synonyms

Coordinate terms

Derived terms

Translations

See also

Etymology

From hedge +‎ hog.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈhɛdʒhɒɡ/

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