a. [ad. L. spīnōs-us (whence also It. spinoso, Sp. espinoso, Pg. espinhoso, OF. espinous, -eus, F. épineux), f. spīna thorn.]
† 1. = SPIROUS a. 1. Obs.
1660. H. More, Myst. Godl., VIII. iii. 369. If this Childe of God prove something spinose and harsh in opposing, rebuking [etc.].
1665. Glanvill, Def. Van. Dogm., 89. A spurious medley of nice, spinose, and useless notions.
1677. Gale, Crt. Gentiles, III. 20. Of spinose, frivolous questions, such as assume the name of Science but deserve not the same.
2. Zool. = SPINOUS a. 3.
1661. Lovell, Hist. Anim. & Min., Isagoge A vj b. Oxyrinchus, stellarie oculate and clavate, spinose, rough.
c. 1711. Petiver, Gazophyl., IV. xl. I have observed one or two of this Genus of Insects in England, tho not Spinose.
1742. Phil. Trans., XLII. 28. The Cartilaginous and Spinose kinds of Fishes.
1835. Kirby, Hab. & Inst. Anim., I. x. 307. The hard and often spinose crust of crabs or lobsters.
1852. Dana, Crust., II. 1530. The tendency to spinose forms among the species of the colder temperate regions.
1896. Lydekker, Roy. Nat. Hist., V. 65. The spinose land-terrapin (Geoëmyda spinosa).
3. Bot. = SPINOUS a. 2.
1693. Phil. Trans., XVII. 687. ’Tis spinose, and trifoliate, the Flower and Seed of a coccineous Colour.
1753. Chambers, Cycl., Suppl. s.v. Leaf, Spinose Leaf, that whose disk or edge is armed with cartilaginous points … firmly affixed.
1772. J. R. Forster, trans. Kalm’s Trav. N. Amer., I. 130. When the hedges consist of spinose bushes, the cattle will hardly attempt to get through them.
1869. Oliver, Elem. Bot., I. vii. 80. In Whin or Furze, both the leaves … and the branches are spinose.
1870. Hooker, Stud. Flora, 8. Achenes tubercled or spinose.
Comb. 1857. T. Moore, Handbk. Brit. Ferns (ed. 3), 41. Serratures spinose-mucronate.
1857. Henfrey, Bot., 56. These teeth … may be tipped with spines when they are termed spinose-serrate.
Hence Spinosely adv.
1847. W. E. Steele, Field Bot., 84. Leaves minutely spinosely ciliated on edge. Ibid., 163. Leaves … spinosely serrate.
