n. a natural family including the true hedgehogs. Syn. -- family Erinaceidae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]
a. [ L. erinaceus hedgehog. ] (Zoöl.) Of the Hedgehog family; like, or characteristic of, a hedgehog. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. the type genus of the family Erinaceidae, composed of hedgehogs. Syn. -- genus Erinaceus. [ WordNet 1.5 ]