spine: [14] Spine comes via Old French espine from Latin spīna ‘thorn’, which was probably derived from the same base as spīca ‘ear of corn’ (source of English spike ‘pointed flower head’). The metaphorical extension ‘backbone’ developed in Latin, perhaps via ‘prickle’ and ‘fish bone’. A spinney [16] is etymologically a ‘thorny thicket’. The word comes via Old French espinei from Vulgar Latin *spīnēta, an alteration of Latin spīnētum ‘thorny hedge’, which was derived from spīna. => spike, spinney
spine (n.)
c. 1400, "backbone," later "thornlike part" (early 15c.), from Old French espine "thorn, prickle; backbone, spine" (12c., Modern French épine), from Latin spina "backbone," originally "thorn, prickle" (figuratively, in plural, "difficulties, perplexities"), from PIE *spe-ina-, from root *spei- "sharp point" (see spike (n.1)). Meaning "the back of a book" is first attested 1922.
双语例句
1. He felt the hardness of the iron railing press against his spine.
他感觉到硬邦邦的铁栏杆顶着自己的脊梁。
来自柯林斯例句
2. This movement lengthens your spine and tones the spinal nerves.
