Spine"back` (?), n. (Zoöl.) A fish having spines in, or in front of,
the dorsal fins.
Spine"bill` (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any species of Australian birds of the
genus Acanthorhynchus. They are related to the honey eaters.
Spined (?), a. Furnished with spines; spiny.
Spine"-finned` (?), a. (Zoöl.) Having fine supported by spinous fin
rays; -- said of certain fishes.
{ Spi*nel" (?), Spi*nelle" (?), } n. [F. spinelle, or LL. spinellus,
perhaps from L. spina a thorn, a prickle, in allusion to its pointed
crystals.] (Min.) A mineral occuring in octahedrons of great hardness
and various colors, as red, green, blue, brown, and black, the red
variety being the gem spinel ruby. It consist essentially of alumina
and magnesia, but commonly contains iron and sometimes also chromium.
The spinel group includes spinel proper, also magnetite, chromite,
franklinite, gahnite, etc., all of which may be regarded as composed of
a sesquioxide and a protoxide in equal proportions.
Spin"el (?), n. Bleached yarn in making the linen tape called inkle;
unwrought inkle. Knight.
Spine"less (?), a. Having no spine.
Spi*nes"cent (?), a.[L. spinescens, -entis, p. pr. of spinescere to
know to grow thorny, fr. spina a thorn: cf. F. spinescent.] (Bot.)
Becoming hard and thorny; tapering gradually to a rigid, leafless
point; armed with spines. Gray.
Spin"et (?), n. [OF. espinete, F. épinette (cf. It. spinetta), fr. L.
spina a thorn; -- so called because its quills resemble thorns. See
Spine.] (Mus.) A keyed instrument of music resembling a harpsichord,
but smaller, with one string of brass or steel wire to each note,
sounded by means of leather or quill plectrums or jacks. It was
formerly much used.
Dumb spinet. (Mus.) See Manichordon.
Spi"net (?), n. [L. spinetum. See Spinny.] A spinny. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
Spine"tail` (?), n. (Zoöl.) (a) Any one or several species of swifts of
the genus Acanthylis, or Chætura, and allied genera, in which the
shafts of the tail feathers terminate in rigid spines. (b) Any one of
several species of South American and Central American clamatorial
birds belonging to Synallaxis and allied genera of the family
Dendrocolaptidæ. They are allied to the ovenbirds. (c) The ruddy duck.
[Local, U.S.]
Spine"-tailed (?), a. (Zoöl.) Having the tail quills ending in sharp,
naked tips.
Spine-tailed swift. (Zoöl.) See Spinetail (a).