Dictionary De - En
De - Es
De - Pt| English Dictionary: porcupine | by the DICT Development Group |
| 3 results for porcupine | |
| From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
| From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
|
Porcupine \Por"cu*pine\, n. [OE. porkepyn, porpentine, OF. porc-espi, F. porc-[82]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. [82]pi ear, a spike of grain, L. spica. See {Pork}, {Spike} a large nail, {Spine}.] 1. (Zo[94]l.) 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. (Zo[94]l.) 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} (Zo[94]l.), the echidna. {Porcupine crab} (Zo[94]l.), a large spiny Japanese crab ({Acantholithodes hystrix}). {Porcupine disease} (Med.). See {Ichthyosis}. {Porcupine fish} (Zo[94]l.), 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. | |
| From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]: | |
|
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 | |
