/ ˈpɔːkjupaɪn; NAmE ˈpɔːrk-/ noun
an animal covered with long stiff parts like needles (called quills ), which it can raise to protect itself when it is attacked
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French porc espin , from Provençal porc espi(n ), from Latin porcus pig + spina thorn.