* "Porc": Derived from the Latin word "porcus", meaning "pig". This refers to the animal's thick, bristly appearance which resembles a pig's.
* "Spine": Derived from the Latin word "spina", meaning "thorn" or "spine". This refers to the animal's most striking feature - its sharp, defensive quills.
Therefore, "porcupine" essentially means "pig-spine", a descriptive name that aptly captures the animal's unique characteristics.