Lexic.us

Definition of Hedgehog

1. Noun. Relatively large rodents with sharp erectile bristles mingled with the fur.

2. Noun. Small nocturnal Old World mammal covered with both hair and protective spines.

Definition of Hedgehog

1. n. A small European insectivore (Erinaceus Europæus), 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. n. 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.

Definition of Hedgehog

1. Noun. Small mammal characterized by its spiny back and by its habit of rolling itself into a ball when attacked. ¹

2. Noun. A type of moveable military barricade made from crossed logs or steel bars, laced with barbed wire, used to damage or impede tanks and vehicles; Czech hedgehog. ¹

3. Noun. The nickname for a type of depth charge weapon that simultaneously fires a number of explosives into the water to create a pattern of underwater explosions intended to attack submerged enemies. ¹

4. Noun. (Australia) A type of chocolate cake (or slice), somewhat similar to an American brownie. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Hedgehog

1. a small mammal [n -S]

Medical Definition of Hedgehog

1. 1. 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. The Canadian porcupine. 3. A species of Medicago (M. Intertexta), the pods of which are armed with short spines; popularly so called. 4. A form of dredging machine. Hedgehog caterpillar, a plant of the Cactus family, globular in form, and covered with spines (Echinocactus). Sea hedgehog. See Diodon. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Hedgehog

hedge tree hedge trees hedge trimmer hedge trimmers hedge violet hedgeapple hedgeapples hedgeberries hedgeberry hedgeborn

hedgebote hedgebotes hedged hedged one's bets hedgefund hedgehog (current term) hedgehog cactus hedgehog cereus hedgehog signalling pathway hedgehoglike

hedgehogs hedgehop hedgehopped hedgehopper hedgehoppers hedgehopping hedgehops hedgeless hedgelike hedgepig

Literary usage of Hedgehog

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Grimm's Fairy Tales by Jacob Grimm, Wilhelm Grimm, Edna Henry Lee Turpin (1903)
"THE HARE AND THE hedgehog It was a beautiful morning in late summer. ... All things seemed happy, even the hedgehog, standing at his door, ..."

2. The Green Fairy Book by Andrew Lang (1892)
"JACK MY hedgehog THERE was once a farmer who lived in great comfort. He had both lands and money, but, though he was so well off, one thing was wanting to ..."

3. Children's Classics in Dramatic Form by Augusta Stevenson (1909)
"hedgehog. Oh, there is enough for all of us, hares, hedgehogs, and farmer. WIFE. ... hedgehog. Well, we will let them alone as we have always done. WIFE. ..."

4. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History by American Museum of Natural History (1903)
"A FOSSIL hedgehog FROM THE AMERICAN OLIGOCENE. By WD MATTHEW. The hedgehog family (Erinaceidae) has hitherto been found only in the Old World (Europe, Asia, ..."

5. The Riverside Readers by James Hixon Van Sickle, Wilhelmina Seegmiller (1911)
"hedgehog are walking in the field.] hedgehog. These cabbages are growing well. ... Oh, there is enough for us all — hares, hedgehogs, and farmer. hedgehog ..."

6. The Animal Kingdom Arranged in Conformity with Its Organization by Georges Cuvier, Edward Griffith, Charles Hamilton Smith, Edward Pidgeon, John Edward Gray, George Robert Gray (1827)
"The powers of stomach of the hedgehog are equally adapted with its teeth for insectivorous ... The hedgehog with pendent ears (Erinaceus Malaccensis), ..."

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