A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1499-1500, 1587-1612
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Porcupine, -pyne, Porcapyne, -pene, Porcopon, n. [e.m.E. porkepyn (1530), porkpine (1538), porcupine, porcuspine (both 1607), altered f. ME porke despyne (a 1400), porc de spyne (c 1400), OF (and Prov.) porc espin (c 1220 in Godef.), also porc despine (c 1275), L. type *porcus spīnus or *porcus spīnōs-us spiny pig.] A porcupine; also a representation of one. — a1500 Henr. Fab. 904 (Bann.).
Bayth ottour, aip, and pennytt porcapyne [: wolfyne, suyne; v.rr. porcupyne] 1587 Carmichael Etym. 22.
Porcupine 1590 Treasurer's Accounts MS 209.
In recompance of a porcopon gevin to his hienes … ic li. c 1612 Craven Ch. in Orkney II 98.
Ane grite cannon callit Thrown Mow markit with the porcapene
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"Porcupine n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/porcupine>
