hedgehogginess

English

Etymology

From hedgehoggy +‎ -ness.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈhɛd͡ʒhɒɡɪnəs/

Noun

hedgehogginess (uncountable)

1. Hedgehoggy behaviour or character; disagreeability; prickliness.
   • 1858, Motley, Corr., volume I, published 1889, page 266:

     ‘Why is it that we English, when we meet abroad, are so very friendly, and when we reappear in London are so very hedgyhoggy?’ I told her that the reason why there was no hedgehogginess on this occasion was because I was not an Englishman.

Translations

hedgehoggy behaviour or character

• Welsh: draenogrwydd m

Further reading

• James A. H. Murray et al., editors (1884–1928), “He·dgehogginess”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volume V (H–K), London: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 189, column 1.