noun

hedgehog

hedgehog

A hedgehog curled up into a spiky ball.

A hedgehog curled up into a spiky ball.

a/the hedgehog a small, spiny mammal We saw a hedgehog in the garden.

Synonyms: none; Similar animals: porcupine

From Old English 'haga' (hedge) and 'hog' (pig). It literally means 'hedge-pig'.

Picture a small, pig-like animal ('hog') that you might find in a hedge.

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