/ ˈhedʒhɒg; NAmE -hɔːg; -hɑːg/ noun
a small brown European animal with stiff parts like needles, (called spines ), covering its back. Hedgehogs are nocturnal (= active mostly at night) and can roll into a ball to defend themselves when they are attacked.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from hedge (from its habitat) + hog (from its piglike snout).