Chapter Spina bifida to Spiræic of S by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

6. (Geom.) A solid generated by the revolution of a curved line about its base or double ordinate or chord.

7. (Zoöl.) (a) Any marine univalve shell of the genus Rostellaria; — called also spindle stromb. (b) Any marine gastropod of the genus Fusus.

Dead spindle (Mach.), a spindle in a machine tool that does not revolve; the spindle of the tailstock of a lathe. — Live spindle (Mach.), the revolving spindle of a machine tool; the spindle of the headstock of a turning lathe. — Spindle shell. (Zoöl.) See Spindle, 7. above. — Spindle side, the female side in descent; in the female line; opposed to spear side. Ld. Lytton. [R.] "King Lycaon, grandson, by the spindle side, of Oceanus." Lowell. — Spindle tree (Bot.), any shrub or tree of the genus Eunymus. The wood of E. Europæus was used for spindles and skewers. See Prickwood.

Spindle
(Spin"dle), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Spindled; p. pr. & vb. n. Spindling ] To shoot or grow into a long, slender stalk or body; to become disproportionately tall and slender.

It has begun to spindle into overintellectuality.

Lowell.

Spindle-legged
(Spin"dle-legged`) a. Having long, slender legs.

Spindlelegs
(Spin"dle*legs`) n. A spindleshanks.

Spindle-shanked
(Spin"dle-shanked`) a. Having long, slender legs. Addison.

Spindleshanks
(Spin"dle*shanks`) n. A person with slender shanks, or legs; — used humorously or in contempt.

Spindle-shaped
(Spin"dle-shaped`) a.

1. Having the shape of a spindle.

2. (Bot.) Thickest in the middle, and tapering to both ends; fusiform; — applied chiefly to roots.

Spindletail
(Spin"dle*tail`) n. (Zoöl.) The pintail duck. [Local, U.S.]

Spindleworm
(Spin"dle*worm`) n. (Zoöl.) The larva of a noctuid mmoth (Achatodes zeæ) which feeds inside the stalks of corn sometimes causing much damage. It is smooth, with a black head and tail and a row of black dots across each segment.

Spindling
(Spin"dling) a. Long and slender, or disproportionately tall and slender; as, a spindling tree; a spindling boy.

Spine
(Spine) n. [L. spina thorn, the spine; akin to spica a point: cf. OF. espine, F. épine. Cf. Spike, Spinet a musical instrument, Spinny.]

1. (Bot.) A sharp appendage to any of a plant; a thorn.

2. (Zoöl.) (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 vertebræ.

4. Anything resembling the spine or backbone; a ridge.

Spineback
(Spine"back`) n. (Zoöl.) A fish having spines in, or in front of, the dorsal fins.