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hedgehog

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hedgehog

1. any small nocturnal Old World mammal of the genus Erinaceus, such as E. europaeus, and related genera, having a protective covering of spines on the back: family Erinaceidae, order Insectivora (insectivores)
2. any other insectivores of the family Erinaceidae, such as the moon rat
3. US any of various other spiny animals, esp the porcupine
Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

hedgehog

[′hej‚häg]
(ordnance)
A portable obstacle, made of crossed poles laced with barbed wire, in the general shape of an hourglass.
A beach obstacle, usually made of steel bars or channel iron, imbedded in concrete and used to interfere with beach landings.
A concentration of troops securely entrenched or fortified, with arms and defenses facing all directions.
(vertebrate zoology)
The common name for members of the insectivorous family Erinaceidae characterized by spines on their back and sides.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

hedgehog

attribute of gourmandism personified. [Animal Symbolism: Hall, 146]
Allusions—Cultural, Literary, Biblical, and Historical: A Thematic Dictionary. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
Mentioned in
References in classic literature
"Very well, I am ready to drop the hedgehog, if you like; but I am anxious to be able to clear up this accumulation of misunderstandings.
The hoglet was discovered behind holy walls rolled in a ball before being taken to the Northumbrian Hedgehog Rescue Trust based in Longframlington.
''A hedgehog can hang out all day while you are at work, you can come home, hang out with it for a couple of hours or.
Dr Yamaguchi is very familiar with the peculiarities of certain hedgehogs. For instance, 009, the first radio-tracked Ethiopian hedgehog in the world, is an over three-year old male adult who would not curl up, unlike others, if picked up.
Go on, think about it, when was the last time you saw a hedgehog? Matters have become so drastic that hedgehog lovers across the UK have launched a series of surveys and initiatives to encourage the public to record sightings of the troubled animal.
Through Hedgehog Street we are asking volunteer Hedgehog Champions to rally support from their friends and neighbours and work together to create ideal hedgehog habitat throughout their street, school or communal grounds.
We have just launched a brand new project called Hedgehog Street asking people to think about the way they garden and care for their green spaces.
The department says hedgehog numbers in Cyprus have been steadily decreasing due to a perception that these animals are 'worthless'.
* provide appropriate client education to new hedgehog owners.
CONSERVATIONISTS have a job on their hands - they want to count EVERY hedgehog in Ireland.
One such series of signals, known as the hedgehog signaling pathway, occurs in a variety of creatures, from insects to people.
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