Spine

(spin.) [From L.spina, the backbone.] (Anat.) The column of bones in the back of the vertebrate animals, See VERTEBRE. (Bot.) A thorn or sharp proce from the woody part of a plant. It differs from a prickle, which proceeds from the bark. A S. sometimes terminates a branch of leaf; and sometimes is axillary, growing at the angle formed by the branch or leaf with the stem. The wild apple, the sloe, ., are armed with S. or thorns; the gooseberry bush, the bramble, and the rose have prickles. S. are branches, the development of which has been arrested.- Aculei or prickles are a kind of hardened hair. - (Zool.) A slender acuminated spike found in certain fishes. [s. 847]