porcupine

As a noun porcupine

is any of several rodents of either of the taxonomic families hystricidae (old world porcupines) or erethizontidae (new world porcupines), noted for their sharp spines or quills, which are raised when the animal is attacked or surprised.

As an adjective hystricomorphous is

(zoology) like, or allied to, the porcupines; applied to the rodent group hystricomorpha.

As nouns the difference between porcupine and quillwork

is that porcupine is any of several rodents of either of the taxonomic families hystricidae (old world porcupines) or erethizontidae (new world porcupines), noted for their sharp spines or quills, which are raised when the animal is attacked or surprised while quillwork is decorative textile embellishment made from porcupine quills by certain native americans.