Hypertext Webster Gateway: "spine"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Spine \Spine\, n. [L. spina thorn, the spine; akin to spica a
point: cf. OF. espine, F. ['e]pine. Cf. {Spike}, {Spinet} a
musical instrument, {Spinny}.]
1. (Bot.) A sharp appendage to any of a plant; a thorn.
2. (Zo["o]l.)
(a) A rigid and sharp projection upon any part of an
animal.
(b) One of the rigid and undivided fin rays of a fish.
3. (Anat.) The backbone, or spinal column, of an animal; --
so called from the projecting processes upon the
vertebr[ae].
4. Anything resembling the spine or backbone; a ridge.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
spine
n 1: the series of vertebrae forming the axis of the skeleton and
protecting the spinal cord; "the fall broke his back"
[syn: {spinal column}, {vertebral column}, {backbone}, {back},
{rachis}]
2: any pointed projection [syn: {spur}]
3: a sharp-pointed tip on a stem or leaf [syn: {thorn}, {prickle},
{pricker}, {sticker}]
4: a sharp rigid animal process or appendage; as a porcupine
quill or a ridge on a bone or a ray of a fish fin
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