The spiny deserts of scholastic philosophy.
Bp. Warburton.
Spiny lobster. (Zoöl.) Same as Rock lobster, under Rock. See also
Lobster.
Spin"y, n. See Spinny.
||Spi*o"de*a (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Spio the typical genus.] (Zoöl.) An
||extensive division of marine Annelida, including those that are
||without oral tentacles or cirri, and have the gills, when present,
||mostly arranged along the sides of the body. They generally live in
||burrows or tubes.
Spi"ra*ble (?), a. [L. spirabilis.] Capable of being breathed;
respirable. [Obs.] Nash.
Spir"a*cle (?), n.[L. spiraculum, fr. spirare to breathe: cf. F.
spiracule. See Spirit.] 1. (Anat.) The nostril, or one of the nostrils,
of whales, porpoises, and allied animals.
2. (Zoöl.) (a) One of the external openings communicating with the air
tubes or tracheæ of insects, myriapods, and arachnids. They are
variable in number, and are usually situated on the sides of the thorax
and abdomen, a pair to a segment. These openings are usually
elliptical, and capable of being closed. See Illust. under Coleoptera.
(a) A tubular orifice communicating with the gill cavity of certain
ganoid and all elasmobranch fishes. It is the modified first gill
cleft.