The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word PORCUPINE
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
P
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More clues leading to the result PORCUPINE
- One pointedly protected small cavity storing trophy at home
- Spiny rodent’s meat talked of up in Edinburgh originally
- Rodent caught awake within interior to tiny hole
- Hole to keep a serving of tea in that’s spiked
- Prickly type keeping gold trophy at home amid exercises
- Piggy is holding up another animal
- Rodent in yellow vessel hidden in wood
- Ridiculous price upon large rodent
- Porn movie's finale involves Cupid, briefly, and a critter in the woods
- Different pincer up, nipping old rodent
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "One pointedly protected" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case one pointedly protected = porcupine.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does PORCUPINE mean?
PORCUPINE noun- Any of several rodents of either of the taxonomic families Hystricidae (Old World porcupines) or Erethizontidae (New World porcupines), both from the infraorder Hystricognathi, noted for their sharp spines or quills, which are raised when the animal is attacked or surprised.