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hedgehog

more about hedgehog

hedgehog

 

  3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Hedgehog  \Hedge"hog`\,  n.  (Elec.) 
  A  variety  of  transformer  with  open  magnetic  circuit,  the  ends 
  of  the  iron  wire  core  being  turned  outward  and  presenting  a 
  bristling  appearance,  whence  the  name 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Hedgehog  \Hedge"hog`\,  n. 
  1.  (Zo["o]l.)  A  small  European  insectivore  ({Erinaceus 
  Europ[ae]us}),  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.  (Zo["o]l.)  The  Canadian  porcupine.[U.S] 
 
  3.  (Bot.)  A  species  of  {Medicago}  ({M.  intertexta}),  the  pods 
  of  which  are  armed  with  short  spines;  --  popularly  so 
  called  --Loudon. 
 
  4.  A  form  of  dredging  machine.  --Knight. 
 
  {Hedgehog  caterpillar}  (Zo["o]l.),  the  hairy  larv[ae]  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}  (Zo["o]l.),  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}  (Zo["o]l.),  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}  (Zo["o]l.),  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}. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  hedgehog 
  n  1:  relatively  large  rodents  with  sharp  erectile  bristles 
  mingled  with  the  fur  [syn:  {porcupine}] 
  2:  small  nocturnal  Old  World  mammal  covered  with  both  hair  and 
  protective  spines  [syn:  {Erinaceus  europaeus},  {Erinaceus 
  europeaeus}]




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