spine English · revision 15115

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1400|origins=la spīna}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /spaɪn/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fro|espine|t=thorn, prickle, backbone]] (modern [[fr|épine]]) and directly [[la|spīna|t=thorn, prickle, backbone]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) whose first sense was thorn.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) It is cognate with [[lv|spina|t=twig, switch]] and [[gmh|spenel|t=pin, needle]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[ine-pro|*spīnā]] in Barnhart, or [[ine-pro|*spein-]] in de Vaan, as cited by Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The backbone: about 1400, in a translation of Lanfranc's Science of Surgery;^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) the sense was rare before the 17th century.^(Hoad 1986)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A thorn-like part is from the early 15th century,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and in botany a stiff, sharp outgrowth from 1430–40.^(OED 1989) Zoologists used it for pointed outgrowths from 1721, then for hedgehog prickles (1753) and fin spines (1774).^(OED 1989) The back of a book is a spine by 1920, in advertisements for book-cover protectors.^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) In Latin the plural also meant difficulties.^(Etymonline) Spinal is from 1578.^(Barnhart 1988) [[spinney|alt=Spinney]] goes back to a Latin word for a thicket, from spīna.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1400 – the backbone.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * early 15th century – a thorn-like part.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1430–40 – a spine (botany).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1578 – spinal.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1753 – a hedgehog's spines.^(OED 1989)

+ * by 1920 – the spine of a book.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The spinal column; the [[backbone]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A pointed outgrowth of an animal, such as a porcupine's quill or a fin ray.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A stiff, sharp-pointed outgrowth of a stem or leaf; a [[thorn]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The back of a book, where the pages are bound.^(Collins 2023)^(Etymonline)

+ # A ridge, especially of a hill.^(Collins 2023)

+ # Strength of will or character; courage.^(Collins 2023)

+ # Something like a backbone in function or importance; a main support.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[spined]]

+ * [[spinelike]]

+ * [[spine-chilling]]

+ * [[spinal]]

+ * [[spineless]]

+ * [[spinose]]

+ * [[spinous]]

+ * [[spiny]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[spina bifida]]

+ * [[spinal canal]]

+ * [[spinal column]]

+ * [[spinal cord]]

+ * [[spiniferous]]

+ * [[spinule]]

+ * [[spinney]]

+ * [[spike]]

+ * [[spinach]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}