porcupine

porcupine
    n 1: relatively large rodents with sharp erectile bristles
         mingled with the fur [syn: {porcupine}, {hedgehog}]
    

Porcupine \Por"cu*pine\, n. [OE. porkepyn, porpentine, OF.
   porc-espi, F. porc-['e]pic (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. ['e]pi 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.
      [1913 Webster]

   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.
      [1913 Webster]

   {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.
      [1913 Webster]
    

Porcupine, SD (CDP, FIPS 51340)
  Location: 43.27197 N, 102.33289 W
  Population (1990): 783 (175 housing units)
  Area: 24.5 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
  Zip code(s): 57772
    

Porcupine, SD -- U.S. Census Designated Place in South Dakota
   Population (2000):    407
   Housing Units (2000): 103
   Land area (2000):     9.493955 sq. miles (24.589229 sq. km)
   Water area (2000):    0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km)
   Total area (2000):    9.493955 sq. miles (24.589229 sq. km)
   FIPS code:            51340
   Located within:       South Dakota (SD), FIPS 46
   Location:             43.262380 N, 102.347660 W
   ZIP Codes (1990):     57772
   Note: some ZIP codes may be omitted esp. for suburbs.
   Headwords:
    Porcupine, SD
    Porcupine
    

29 Moby Thesaurus words for "porcupine":
      Cape polecat, ape, bar, bear, cavy, chimp, chimpanzee, coon,
      ferret, foumart, glutton, groundhog, guinea pig, hedgehog, monk,
      monkey, mousehound, opossum, polecat, possum, prairie dog,
      quill pig, raccoon, skunk, weasel, whistle-pig, wolverine,
      woodchuck, zoril