n. 1 any small nocturnal insect-eating mammal of the genus Erinaceus, esp. E. europaeus, having a piglike snout and a coat of spines, and rolling itself up into a ball for defence. 2 a porcupine or other animal similarly covered with spines. hedgehoggy adj.
[ ME f. HEDGE (from its habitat) + HOG (from its snout) ]