Webster's English Dictionary

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porcupine

por.cu.pine \'po.r-ky*-.pi-n\ n [ME porkepin, fr. MF porc espin, fr. OIt 
   porcospino, fr. L  often attrib Xporcus pig + spina spine, prickle : any of 
   various relatively large rodents having stiff sharp erectile bris tles 
   mingled with the hair and constituting an Old World terrestrial 
   (Hystricidae) and a New World arboreal family (Erethizontidae)