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Definition of "porcupine" [por•cu•pine]

  • Any of various rodents of the Old World family Hystricidae or the New World family Erethizontidae, having long, sharp, erectile quills interspersed with coarse hair. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "porcupine" in a sentence
  • "Having sexual relations with a porcupine is illegal in Florida."
  • "At the risk of inspiring his ire, by blowing his cover, I would like to say that IMO, Bubba is a pussycat in porcupine's clothing."
  • "Highly perceptive and of course rejected by a good portion of both the Mexican and American people because that perception of the USA as a blundering Bear and Mexico as a defensive porcupine is offensive to so many people."