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.
Spi*cu"li*form (?), a. (Zoöl.) Having the shape of a spicule.
Spic`u*lig"e*nous (?), a. [L. spiculum + -genous.] (Zoöl.) Producing or
containing spicules.
||Spic`u*li*spon"gi*æ (?), n. pl. [NL.] (Zoöl.) A division of sponges
||including those which have independent siliceous spicules.
||Spic"u*lum (?), n.; pl. Spicula (#). [L., a little point.] (Zoöl.)
||Same as Spicule.
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.