Hedgehog
/ˈhɛdʒ.hɒɡ/noun
A small nocturnal mammal with spines on its back and sides.
Did you know?The word is transparently English, but the second half is the same old word that gave us pig, while the first half refers to hedges, since these animals were often seen foraging near field boundaries.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
hedgehog
“A hedgehog; literally a hog of the hedges”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*hagjahoggaz
“A hedge-hog or hedgehog”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kak- / *keh₂k-
“Likely the ancient root behind hedge-related words, with the second element continuing the root behind hog/pig”
Middle English
English
hedgehogge
“A hedgehog”
Modern English
English
hedgehog
“The modern animal name”