an Old World, insect-eating mammal of the genus Erinaceus, esp. E. europaeus, having spiny hairs on the back and sides.
2.
the porcupine.
3.
Military.
a.
a portable obstacle made of crossed logs in the shape of an hourglass, usually laced with barbed wire.
b.
an obstructive device consisting of steel bars, angle irons, etc., usually embedded in concrete, designed to damage and impede the boats and tanks of a landing force on a beach.
[Origin: 1400–50; late ME heyghoge.See hedge, hog]
Any of several small insectivorous mammals of the family Erinaceidae of Europe, Africa, and Asia, having the back covered with dense erectile spines and characteristically rolling into a ball for protection.
Any of several spiny animals, such as the porcupine, that are similar to the hedgehog.
A well fortified military position.
An antisubmarine weapon consisting of several rows of mortar-like dischargers positioned to fire in a circular pattern ahead of a ship.
An obstacle used against tanks and landing craft, consisting of three crossed iron bars welded or bolted together.
Hedge"hog`\, n. 1. (Zo["o]l.) A small European insectivore (Erinaceus Europ[ae]us), 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. (Zo["o]l.) The Canadian porcupine.[U.S] 3. (Bot.) A species of Medicago (M. intertexta), the pods of which are armed with short spines; -- popularly so called. --Loudon. 4. A form of dredging machine. --Knight. Hedgehog caterpillar (Zo["o]l.), the hairy larv[ae] of several species of bombycid moths, as of the Isabella moth. It curls up like a hedgehog when disturbed. See Woolly bear, and Isabella moth. Hedgehog fish (Zo["o]l.), any spinose plectognath fish, esp. of the genus Diodon; the porcupine fish. Hedgehog grass (Bot.), a grass with spiny involucres, growing on sandy shores; burgrass (Cenchrus tribuloides). Hedgehog rat (Zo["o]l.), one of several West Indian rodents, allied to the porcupines, but with ratlike tails, and few quills, or only stiff bristles. The hedgehog rats belong to Capromys, Plagiodon, and allied genera. Hedgehog shell (Zo["o]l.), any spinose, marine, univalve shell of the genus Murex. Hedgehog thistle (Bot.), a plant of the Cactus family, globular in form, and covered with spines (Echinocactus). Sea hedgehog. See Diodon.
Hedge"hog`\, n. (Elec.) 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.
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