PORCUPINE Definition & Meaning

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porcupine

[pawr-kyuh-pahyn]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

any of several rodents covered with stiff, sharp, erectile spines or quills, as Erethizon dorsatum of North America.

porcupine

/ ˈ��ɔː��ʊˌ�貹ɪ�� /

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

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Other 51�Թ� Forms

ˈ��ǰ��ˌ�辱�Ծ�� adjective
ˈ��ǰ��ˌ�辱�Բ� adjective

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of porcupine¹

1375–1425; late Middle English porcupyne, variant of porcapyne; replacing porke despyne < Middle French porc d'espine thorny pig. See pork, spine

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of porcupine¹

C14 porc despyne pig with spines, from Old French porc espin; see _pork , _spine

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

They lack the adorable charisma of chinchillas, porcupines, moles or rats, though.

From

The machine that cuts the stone looks a little bit like a giant porcupine.

From

According to reports at the time there were some clues, including the discovery of straw bedding with porcupine quills in it.

From

A bloodied but determined honey badger pursues a Cape porcupine in Botswana.

From

BBC Scotland News understands bedding was discovered with porcupine quills in the straw.

From

porcino porcupine anteater

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