Found 1 items, similar to hedgehog caterpillar.
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Definition: Hedgehog caterpillar
Hedgehog
\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.
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2. (Zo["o]l.) The Canadian porcupine.[U.S]
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3. (Bot.) A species of
Medicago (
Medicago intertexta),
the pods of which are armed with short spines; --
popularly so called. --Loudon.
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4. A form of dredging machine. --Knight.
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5. (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.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
6. (Mil.) a defensive obstacle having pointed barbs extending
outward, such as one composed of crossed logs with barbed
wire wound around them, or a tangle of steel beams
embedded in concrete used to impede or damage landing
craft on a beach; also, a position well-fortified with
such defensive obstacles.
[PJC]
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.
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