The hedgehog is a common yet captivating mammal whose name is a simple, highly descriptive label rooted in the Middle English language. This name, first recorded around 1450, is a compound word that perfectly encapsulates the animal’s behavior and physical characteristics. To understand why this creature is called a “hedgehog,” one must break the name into its two distinct parts.
Why They Are Called “Hedge”: The Habitat Connection
The first part of the name, “hedge,” refers directly to the animal’s preferred foraging and nesting habitat. Hedgehogs are often found rooting around in dense undergrowth, thickets, and garden borders, delineated by hedgerows. These strips of shrubs and trees serve as important ecological corridors, providing shelter and a rich source of food for the nocturnal mammal.
The European hedgehog is commonly observed traveling and hunting along these sheltered boundaries. They are insectivores that rely on their sense of smell to locate a diet of beetles, worms, caterpillars, and other invertebrates found in the leaf litter. This consistent habit of frequenting the margins of fields and gardens made their location the most distinctive feature for early observers. The term “hedge” itself comes from the Old English hecg, meaning an enclosure or fence.
Why They Are Called “Hog”: Sound and Appearance
The second half of the name, “hog,” is derived from the sounds the animal makes and its physical features. While foraging, hedgehogs produce a distinct snuffling, grunting, and snorting sound. These vocalizations are similar to those made by a small pig or wild hog, particularly when rooting through soil and vegetation.
The resemblance to a hog is further reinforced by the hedgehog’s physical appearance, specifically its small, mobile snout. This elongated nose is constantly twitching and rooting in the dirt, which mimics the foraging behavior of swine. Although they are not related to pigs, the combination of the rounded body shape and the pig-like snorting inspired the latter half of the common name.
Names Across Cultures and History
The English name “hedgehog” is not the only one to describe the animal based on its behavior and looks. Before “hedgehog” became common in the mid-15th century, the animal was often referred to as an “urchin” in Middle English, a term derived from the Latin word ericius. This term is still preserved in the name for the sea urchin, which is essentially a “sea hedgehog”.
The German name, Igel, is another example, stemming from the older Old English igil. Furthermore, folk names like “hedgepig” and “furze-pig” were also used in various English dialects, reinforcing the dual descriptive nature of the habitat and the pig-like appearance.