ClimateAugust 8, 2026

porcupines

POR-kyu-pynz

Definition

Large rodents characterized by long, sharp quills covering their bodies for defense.

Etymology

Derived from the Middle French 'porc espin,' which literally translates to 'spiny pig,' combining the Latin roots for 'pig' and 'thorn' or 'spine'.

In the news

The article uses porcupines as an example of the diverse wildlife found on campus. Their presence highlights the importance of maintaining natural habitats within university grounds.

A campus alive with biodiversity

Read the full article ↗

The Daily Star

Related words

Learn a word like this every day

Meet one new word every morning.

Newspoken pulls one carefully chosen word from the day’s news — with a clear definition, context, and light review that makes it stick. Get it on your phone.