Porcupine crab

Porcupine crab
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. (Zo["o]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. [1913 Webster]

2. (Zo["o]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. [1913 Webster]

{Porcupine ant-eater} (Zo["o]l.), the echidna.

{Porcupine crab} (Zo["o]l.), a large spiny Japanese crab ({Acantholithodes hystrix}).

{Porcupine disease} (Med.). See {Ichthyosis}.

{Porcupine fish} (Zo["o]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. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • porcupine crab — noun : a spiny anomuran crustacean (Lithodes hystrix) of the coast of Japan that resembles a crab …   Useful english dictionary

  • 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Porcupine ant-eater — 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Porcupine disease — 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Porcupine fish — 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Porcupine grass — 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Porcupine wood — 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Tree porcupine — Tree Tree (tr[=e]), n. [OE. tree, tre, treo, AS. tre[ o], tre[ o]w, tree, wood; akin to OFries. tr[=e], OS. treo, trio, Icel. tr[=e], Dan. tr[ae], Sw. tr[ a], tr[ a]d, Goth. triu, Russ. drevo, W. derw an oak, Ir. darag, darog, Gr. dry^s a tree,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Tree crab — Tree Tree (tr[=e]), n. [OE. tree, tre, treo, AS. tre[ o], tre[ o]w, tree, wood; akin to OFries. tr[=e], OS. treo, trio, Icel. tr[=e], Dan. tr[ae], Sw. tr[ a], tr[ a]d, Goth. triu, Russ. drevo, W. derw an oak, Ir. darag, darog, Gr. dry^s a tree,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Acantholithodes hystrix — 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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