Spicosity to Spin
Spicosity
(Spi*cos"i*ty) n. The state of having, or being full of, ears like corn. [R.] Bailey.
Spicous
(Spi"cous) a. (Bot.) See Spicose.
Spicula
(||Spic"u*la) n.; pl. Spiculæ [NL., dim. of L. spica a spike, ear.] (Bot.) (a) A little spike; a spikelet.
(b) A pointed fleshy appendage.
Spicular
(Spic"u*lar) a. [L. spiculum a dart: cf. F. spiculaire.] Resembling a dart; having sharp points.
Spiculate
(Spic"u*late) a. [L. spiculatus, p. p. of spiculare to sharpen, to point, fr. spiculum a dart.]
1. Covered with, or having, spicules.
2. (Bot.) Covered with minute spiculæ, or pointed fleshy appendages; divided into small spikelets.
Spiculate
(Spic"u*late) v. t. To sharpen to a point. [R.] "With spiculated paling." Mason.
Spicule
(Spic"ule) n. [L. spiculum a little point, a dart.]
1. A minute, slender granule, or point.
2. (Bot.) Same as Spicula.
3. (Zoöl.) Any small calcareous or siliceous body found in the tissues of various invertebrate animals,
especially in sponges and in most Alcyonaria.
Spicules vary exceedingly in size and shape, and some of those found in siliceous sponges are very
complex in structure and elegant in form. They are of great use in classification.
Description of the Illustration:
a Acerate; b Tricurvate, or Bowshaped; c d Hamate; e Broomshaped; f Scepterellate; g Spinispirulate;
h Inequi-anchorate; i Sexradiate; j A Trichite Sheaf; k Six-rayed Capitate; l Rosette of Esperia; m Equi-
anchorate.
Spiculiform
(Spi*cu"li*form) a. (Zoöl.) Having the shape of a spicule.
Spiculigenous
(Spic`u*lig"e*nous) a. [L. spiculum + -genous.] (Zoöl.) Producing or containing spicules.
Spiculispongiæ
(||Spic`u*li*spon"gi*æ) n. pl. [NL.] (Zoöl.) A division of sponges including those which have
independent siliceous spicules.
Spiculum
(||Spic"u*lum) n.; pl. Spicula [L., a little point.] (Zoöl.) Same as Spicule.
Spicy
(Spi"cy) a. [Compar. Spicier ; superl. Spiciest.] [From Spice.]
1. Flavored with, or containing, spice or spices; fragrant; aromatic; as, spicy breezes. "The spicy nut-
brown ale." Milton.
Led by new stars, and borne by spicy gales.
Pope. 2. Producing, or abounding with, spices.
In hot Ceylon spicy forests grew.
Dryden. 3. Fig.: Piquant; racy; as, a spicy debate.
