Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Porcupine
Por′cu-pine
,Noun.
[OE.
porkepyn
, porpentine
, OF. porc-espi
, F. porc-épic
(cf. It. porco spino
, porco spinoso
, Sp. puerco espino
, puerco espin
, fr. L. porcus
swine + spina
thorn, spine). The last part of the French word is perhaps a corruption from the It. or Sp.; cf. F. épi
ear, a spike of grain, L. spica
. See Pork
, Spike
a large nail, Spine
.] 1.
(Zool.)
Any Old Word rodent of the genus
Hystrix
, having the back covered with long, sharp, erectile spines or quills, sometimes a foot long. The common species of Europe and Asia (Hystrix cristata
) is the best known. 2.
(Zool.)
Any species of
Erethizon
and related genera, native of America. They are related to the true porcupines, but have shorter spines, and are arboreal in their habits. The Canada porcupine (Erethizon dorsatus
) is a well known species. Porcupine ant-eater
(Zool.)
, the echidna.
– Porcupine crab
(Zool.)
, a large spiny Japanese crab (
– Acantholithodes hystrix
). Porcupine disease
(Med.)
. See
– Ichthyosis
. Porcupine fish
(Zool.)
, any plectognath fish having the body covered with spines which become erect when the body is inflated. See
– Diodon
, and Globefish
. Porcupine grass
(Bot.)
, a grass (
– Stipa spartea
) with grains bearing a stout twisted awn, which, by coiling and uncoiling through changes in moisture, propels the sharp-pointed and barbellate grain into the wool and flesh of sheep. It is found from Illinois westward. See Illustration in Appendix. Porcupine wood
(Bot.)
, the hard outer wood of the cocoa palm; – so called because, when cut horizontally, the markings of the wood resemble the quills of a porcupine.
Webster 1828 Edition
Porcupine
POR'CUPINE
,Noun.
In zoology, a quadruped of the genus Hystrix. The crested porcupine has a body about two feet in length, four toes on each of the fore feet, and five on each of the hind feet, a crested head, a short tail, and the upper lip divided like that of the hare. The body is covered with prickles which are very sharp, and some of them nine or ten inches long; these he can erect at pleasure. When attacked, he rolls his body into a round form, in which position the prickles are presented in every direction to the enemy. This species is a native of Africa and Asia.