ˈvertebre Anat. and Zool. ? Obs.
Also 7, 9 verteber.
[a. F. vertèbre: see vertebra. In sense 1 ad. L. vertebrum.]
† 1. The rounded top of the thigh-bone. Obs.—1
| 1541 R. Copland Guydon's Quest. Chirurg. I v, The endes of the bones of the thyghes, called vertebres. |
2. = vertebra 1.
| α 1578 Banister Hist. Man i. 19 b, The first Vertebre.. of the necke is more solid,..then all the bones els of the backe. 1650 Bulwer Anthropomet. 9 That part of the neck which is next to the Atlantick Vertebre. 1692 Ray Disc. 109 The Vertebres of Thornbacks and other Cartilagineous Fishes. 1738 Phil. Trans. XL. 37 The upper extremity of the medulla spinalis, in the first vertebre of the neck. 1769 Ibid. LX. 32 A kitten..had its head cut off betwixt the first and second vertebre of the neck. 1834 H. Caunter Orient Ann. viii. 107 A morah, or footstool, formed of a vertebre of some huge creature. Ibid. 108 The attendants brought away the jaw and half a dozen of the vertebres. |
| β 1828–32 Webster, Verteber. a 1843 Encycl. Metrop. (1845) VII. 292/2 The spine consists of a set of consecutive, cartilaginous, horny pieces,..called Vertebers. |
† 3. The spine;
= vertebra 2.
Obs.—0| 1623 Cockeram i, Verteber, the chine or backe bone. |
† b. pl. = prec. Obs.—0| 1696 Phillips (ed. 5), Vertebers, the whole Ridge of the Back-Bone. |