SPINESCENT Spi*nes"cent, a.Etym: [L. spinescens, -entis, p. pr. of spinescere to know to grow thorny, fr. spina a thorn: cf. F. spinescent.] (Bot.)
Defn: Becoming hard and thorny; tapering gradually to a rigid, leafless point; armed with spines. Gray.
SPINET
Spin"et, n. Etym: [OF. espinete, F. épinette (cf. It. spinetta), fr.
L. spina a thorn; — so called because its quills resemble thorns.
See Spine.] (Mus.)
Defn: 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.
SPINET
Spi"net, n. Etym: [L. spinetum. See Spinny.]
Defn: A spinny. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
SPINETAIL 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
Spine"-tailed, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the tail quills ending in sharp, naked tips. Spine- tailed swift. (Zoöl.) See Spinetail (a).
SPINETED
Spin"et*ed, a.