Erinaceous

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˌɛ.ɹɪˈneɪ.ʃəs/

Definitions

1. Having a resemblance to a hedgehog, often characterized by spines or prickly features, which are typical of creatures related to the hedgehog family
2. Pertaining to qualities or attributes that are similar to those of hedgehogs, particularly in appearance or behavior
3. Having qualities or features that remind one of a hedgehog, especially spiny or prickly traits

Etymology: The adjective "erinaceous" comes from Latin "ērināceus", the word for hedgehog, and it describes anything hedgehog-like or bristling with spines. The Latin noun itself is thought to be related to the Latin "echinus", a sea urchin or spiny creature, which gives the English word a close cousin in "echinoderm", the name for the spiny-skinned sea animals such as starfish and sea urchins. The adjective is built directly on the Latin noun, with the common "-ous" ending that English uses to turn a noun into a descriptive word, so a creature with the qualities of a hedgehog is "erinaceous". The word is mainly found in zoological and botanical writing, where it picks out animals and plants with a prickly, bristly covering.