#hedgehog — Public Fediverse posts

Ancient word of the day: Hedgehog

The ancient word for today is hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus. In the Middle Ages, writers didn’t make reference to hedgehogs, but to urchins. This term for the spiky diminuitive animal is still favoured in some English dialects. We still have the lingering remnants of this etymology in the form of sea urchin, which is literally a sea hedgehog.

The word urchin came to England with the Norman invasion and was derived from the Latin word ericius. Before the Norman conquest, the animal was known by the Anglo-Saxon name Igl.

Other names

Furze-pig – Devon

Hotchi-witchi – Romani

Hodmedods – Norfolk

Ouriço cacheiro – crafty pig
or porco espinho’ – spiky pig in Portuguese

”Thorns shall grow in their palaces, nettles & thistles in their strongholds … there shall the hedgehog build, dig, be there at home and bring forth his young ones.” Taverner’s Isiah 34, 1539.

The hedgehog was a symbol of Christian humility

The Speculum sapientiae, or Mirror of Wisdom is an ancient tale of beasts in Latin. In one tale, a passing goat sees its reflection in a pond and declares himself very handsome indeed. A hedgehog trundles along afterwards and reproaches the goat telling him that profound humility, not vain boasting are what makes animals truly noble.

Read more: The British Library Digitised Manusripts

Content Catnip

Poor kitty, lol. Guess the food wasn't worth the risk 😅

#hedgehog #straycat #CatsOfMastodon #cats #fedicats #hedgehogscatfood #foodhog

Ciao Mondo.
È autunno, cadono le foglie 🍁 e Gedeberto il riccio cerca una casa. È grande come il palmo di una mano (no, non come i manoni di tuo padre) e davvero molto carino. Se ti piace non esitare a scrivermi.
Oltre Gedeberto, realizzo altri animali e stampe in linoleografia. Natale è lì, lì per arrivare così come il compleanno di quell'amico tuo: pensaci magari gli farà piacere.

#christmas2025 #hanmade #hedgehog #riccio #bosco #handmade #homedecor

🦔🦔🦔 there is a family of hedgehogs living behind #punkan. they are so sweet.

⚠️☠️🩸 when you drive a car, you're putting their lives at risk. they'll be flattened by your wheels without you even noticing.

🫵🚫🚘 don't kill. don't drive.

#igelkott #pindsvin #hedgehog #driving #motornormativity #vegan

I can no longer contain the squee! 😍

#hedgehog #trailcam #egel #egeltje #squee #cute #adorable #thatface #snoetje #omg #urbanwildlife #wildlife #nature #toocute #spikyfriends #bonk #clumsy

2/2 Tämmöstä tää nyt on. Siili pyörii muina siileinä Laikasta piittaamatta, joten minä pidän Laikaa sen pihahihnasta kiinni, ettei se säntää siilin kimppuun.

#siili #siilit #hedgehog #hedgehogs #igelkott #igelkottar #pihaelämää #kaupunkiluonto #luonto #eläimet #djur #animals #pihasiili #pihasiilit #Laika #ÄänislinnanLaika #koira #koirat #dog #dogs #dogstodon #DogsOfMastodon

1/2 Isompi pihasiili on paljon pikkusiiliä rohkeampi. Tulee näkösälle, ihan muutaman metrin päähän Laikastakin (iso riski!).

#siili #siilit #hedgehog #hedgehogs #igelkott #igelkottar #pihaelämää #kaupunkiluonto #luonto #eläimet #djur #animals #pihasiili #pihasiilit

1/X Jouduttiin jo tulemaan pihalta sisään, vaikkei olisi tahtonut, kun pihassa taapersi #siili.

Ja #siilit, ne ovat Laikan lempisaaliita. Voitte vain kuvitella, mikä meteli olisi syntynyt. Tähän aikaan.

Muistin, että mulla on näytepakkaus kissanpennunruokaa, ja vein sille. Tovin päästä jo kuului mässytys sisään asti. Mutta niin on arka, että heti, kun lähestyy, alkaa piileksiä.

#hedgehog #hedgehogs #igelkott #igelkottar #pihaelämää #kaupunkiluonto #luonto #eläimet #djur #animals #pihasiili

Looks like hedges aren't the only thing they hog 🤣

And that was the last of the cat food, too, poor Tux... 🎻

#tuxthecat #cats #CatsOfMastodon #nature #wildlife #trailcam #urbanwildlife #funny #scaredycat #hierarchy #foodchain #backyard #egel #unexpected #hedgehog #foodhog

Turn up the volume to hear each word. Try using these words throughout the week and become comfortable using Irish in your day to day life🍀
#onlinecourse #onlinecourses #wordsoftheweek #Gaeilge #irish #learnirish #irishclasses #leavingcert #onlineshop #Ireland #backtoschool #school #education #irishanimals #floraandfauna #wolfhound #redsquirrel #Badgers #reddeer #hare #hedgehog #fox #pinemarten