Porcupette
/ˌpɔːr.kjuːˈpɛt/noun
A young porcupine.
Did you know?The word "porcupette" is derived from the Old French 'porc espin', meaning 'spiny pig', revealing how our ancestors viewed this curious creature as a thorny beast.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
porcus
“pig”
Latin
Latin
spina
“thorn, spine”
Old French
Old French
porc espin
“spiny pig, referring to the porcupine”
16th Century
English
porcupine
“the named spiny mammal, symbolizing danger and defense”
19th Century
English
porcupette
“a diminutive form for a young porcupine, hinting at its defensiveness from an early age.”