Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SPINE, n. [L. and It. spina; Fr. epine; Sp. espinazo; W. yspin, from pin.]

1. The back bone of an animal. – Coxe.
2. The shin of the leg. – Coxe.
3. A thorn; a sharp process from the woody part of a plant. It differs from a prickle, which proceeds from the bark. A spine sometimes terminates a branch, and sometimes is axillary, growing at the angle formed by the branch or leaf with the stem. The wild apple and pear are armed with spines; the rose, bramble, gooseberry, &c. are armed with prickles. – Martyn.