porcupine
Plural: porcupines
Noun
- relatively large rodents with sharp erectile bristles mingled with the fur
- Any of several rodents of either of the taxonomic families Hystricidae (Old World porcupines) or Erethizontidae (New World porcupines), both from the infraorder Hystricognathi, noted for their sharp spines or quills, which are raised when the animal is attacked or surprised.
Origin / Etymology
From Middle English porke despyne, from Old French porc-espin, from Latin porcus (“pig”) + spinus (“spine”), hence also spine pig. Cognate with Spanish puercoespín, Italian porcospino, Portuguese porco-espinho.
Scrabble Score: 15
porcupine: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Wordporcupine: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
porcupine: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary
Words With Friends Score: 20
porcupine: valid Words With Friends Word