What is "hedgehog"

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.

2. (Zo["o]l.) The Canadian porcupine.[U.S]

3. (Bot.) A species of Medicago ( Medicago intertexta), the pods of which are armed with short spines; -- popularly so called.
   --Loudon.

4. A form of dredging machine.
   --Knight.

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.

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.

   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.

mid-15c. (replacing Old English igl), from hedge (n.) + hog (n.); the second element a reference to its pig-like snout.

n. 1 A small mammal, of the subfamily Erinaceinae, characterized by its spiny back and by its habit of rolling itself into a ball when attacked. 2 A type of moveable military barricade made from crossed logs or steel bars, laced with barbed wire, used to damage or impede tanks and vehicles; Czech hedgehog. 3 The nickname for a spigot mortar-type of depth charge weapon from World War II that simultaneously fires a number of explosives into the water to create a pattern of underwater explosions intended to attack submerged submarines. 4 (context Australia English) A type of chocolate cake (or slice), somewhat similar to an American brownie. 5 A form of dredging machine. 6 The flowering plant (taxlink Medicago intertexta species noshow=1), the pods of which are armed with short spines. 7 A kind of electrical transformer with open magnetic circuit, the ends of the iron wire core being turned outward and presenting a bristling appearance.

1. n. relatively large rodents with sharp erectile bristles mingled with the fur [syn: porcupine]

2. small nocturnal Old World mammal covered with both hair and protective spines [syn: Erinaceus europaeus, Erinaceus europeaeus]

Hedgehog is a Melt-Banana 7" EP released in 1994 on Charnel Music.

A ''' hedgehog ''' is any of the spiny mammals of the subfamily Erinaceinae, in the order Eulipotyphla. There are seventeen species of hedgehog in five genera, found through parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, and in New Zealand by introduction. There are no hedgehogs native to Australia, and no living species native to the Americas (the extinct genus Amphechinus was once present in North America). Hedgehogs share distant ancestry with shrews (family Soricidae), with gymnures possibly being the intermediate link, and have changed little over the last 15 million years. Like many of the first mammals, they have adapted to a nocturnal way of life. Hedgehogs' spiny protection resembles that of the unrelated porcupines, which are rodents, and echidnas, a type of monotreme.

The name hedgehog came into use around the year 1450, derived from the Middle English heyghoge, from heyg, hegge ("hedge"), because it frequents hedgerows, and hoge, hogge ("hog"), from its piglike snout. Other names include urchin, hedgepig and furze-pig. The collective noun for a group of hedgehogs is array.

The Hedgehog (also known as an Anti-Submarine Projector) was a forward-throwing anti-submarine weapon that was used during the Battle of the Atlantic in the Second World War. The device, which was developed by the Royal Navy, fired up to 24 spigot mortars ahead of a ship when attacking a U Boat. It was deployed on convoy escort warships such as destroyers and corvettes to supplement the depth charges.

As the mortar projectiles employed contact fuzes rather than time or barometric (depth) fuzes, detonation always occurred directly against the hull of a submarine making it more deadly than depth charges which relied on damage caused by hydrostatic shockwaves. Statistics show that in the Second World War out of 5,174 British depth charge attacks there were 85.5 kills: a ratio of 60.5 to 1. In comparison, the Hedgehog made 268 attacks for 47 kills: a ratio of 5.7 to 1.

The Hedgehog is a pawn formation in chess adopted usually by Black that can arise from several openings. Black exchanges his pawn on c5 for White's pawn on d4, and then places pawns on squares a6, b6, d6, and e6. These pawns form a row of "spines" behind which Black develops his forces. Typically, the bishops are placed on b7 and e7, knights on d7 and f6, queen on c7, and rooks on c8 and e8 (or c8 and d8). Although Black's position is cramped, it has great latent energy, which may be released if Black is able to play ...b5 or ...d5 at some point. These pawn breaks are particularly effective because White usually places his own pawns on c4 and e4 (the Maróczy Bind).

A hedgehog is a small, spiny mammal.

Hedgehog or hedgehogs may also refer to:

• Domesticated hedgehog
• Porcupine, another spiny mammal sometimes referred to as a hedgehog
• Hedgehog (band), a Beijing rock band
• Hedgehog cactus (disambiguation), a common name for Pediocactus, Echinocereus, or Echinopsis
• Hedgehog plant, Erinacea anthyllis
• Hedgehog (chess), a pawn formation in chess
• Hedgehog (weapon), an anti-submarine weapon
• Czech hedgehog (military), an anti-tank, anti-vehicle obstacle
• Hedgehog signaling pathway, a signal transduction pathway
• The Hedgehog, a 2009 French film directed by Mona Achache
• Hedgehog (EP), an EP by Melt-Banana

Hedgehog is a Chinese indie rock trio formed in 2005 by partners ZO and Atom. The band has a strong reputation throughout the country, renowned for their energetic live performances and catchy song writing.

Entertainment event and venue listing magazine City Weekend listed Hedgehog in their articles The Beijing Bands You Should Already Know About and The Hottest Bands of 2011.

Their musical influences include The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Ramones and Nirvana.

The drummer Atom has been a focal point in the band, known for her small, cute appearance and aggressive drumming style. Atom's name references Astroboy, who is known for his small size and power.

Hedgehog song lyrics are sung in both Mandarin and English, primarily by ZO. Atom also occasionally sings lead vocals.

In 2011, the band toured the US, with Xiu Xiu where they also recorded [Sun Fun Gun] in New York, as produced by John Grew and Russell Simins from Jon Spencer Blues Explosion.