hedgehog
noun /ˈhedʒhɒɡ/
/ˈhedʒhɔːɡ/
- a small brown European animal with stiff parts like needles (called spines) covering its back. Hedgehogs are nocturnal (= active mostly at night) and can roll into a ball to defend themselves when they are attacked.Topics Animalsc2Word Originlate Middle English: from hedge (from its habitat) + hog (from its piglike snout).