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Definition of porcupine

porcupine

/ˈpɔːr.kjə.paɪn/
por · cu · pine
Plural:porcupines
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porcupine Lexical Profile

porcupine Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Any of various large, mostly slow-moving rodents native to the Americas, Eurasia, and Africa, distinguished by a defensive coat of sharp spines or quills.

Example

"When threatened by a predator, the porcupine will turn its back and raise its sharp quills as a warning."

• Nearby Words

porce river
porch
porcine
porcupine
porcupine puffer
porcupine river
porcupinefish

Word Origin & Etymology

From Middle English 'porkepin', borrowed from Old French 'porc espin', meaning 'spined pig' (derived from Latin 'porcus' for pig and 'spina' for thorn or spine).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Porcupine. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 19, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/porcupine
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