Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Hedgehog
Hedge′hogˊ
,Noun.
1.
(Zool.)
A small European insectivore (
Erinaceus Europaeus
), and other allied species of Asia and Africa, having the hair on the upper part of its body mixed with prickles or spines. It is able to roll itself into a ball so as to present the spines outwardly in every direction. It is nocturnal in its habits, feeding chiefly upon insects. 2.
(Zool.)
The Canadian porcupine.
[U.S]
3.
(Bot.)
A species of
Medicago
(Medicago intertexta
), the pods of which are armed with short spines; – popularly so called. Loudon.
4.
A form of dredging machine.
Knight.
Hedgehog caterpillar
(Zool.)
, the hairy larvae of several species of bombycid moths, as of the Isabella moth. It curls up like a hedgehog when disturbed. See
– Woolly bear
, and Isabella moth
. Hedgehog fish
(Zool.)
, any spinose plectognath fish, esp. of the genus
– Diodon
; the porcupine fish. Hedgehog grass
(Bot.)
, a grass with spiny involucres, growing on sandy shores; burgrass (
– Cenchrus tribuloides
). Hedgehog rat
(Zool.)
, one of several West Indian rodents, allied to the porcupines, but with ratlike tails, and few quills, or only stiff bristles. The hedgehog rats belong to
– Capromys
, Plagiodon
, and allied genera. Hedgehog shell
(Zool.)
, any spinose, marine, univalve shell of the genus
– Murex
. Hedgehog thistle
(Bot.)
, a plant of the Cactus family, globular in form, and covered with spines (
– Echinocactus
). Sea hedgehog
. See
Diodon
.Webster 1828 Edition
Hedgehog
HEDGEHOG
,Noun.
1.
A term of reproach.2.
A plant of the genus Medicago, or snail-trefoil. The seeds are shaped like a snail, downy, and armed with a few short spines.3.
The globe-fish, orbis echinatus.This fish belongs to the genus Diodon. It is covered with long spines, and has the power of inflating its body, whence the name globe-fish.
The Sea-hedgehog, is the Echinus, a genus of Zoophytes, generally of a spheroidal or oval form, and covered with movable spines.