ˈspicous, a. Bot. ? Obs.
[f. L. spīca spike.]
Spicate; spiky, pointed.
| 1658 Sir T. Browne Gard. Cyrus iii. 46 The seeds about the spicous head or torch of Tapsus Barbatus. 1694 Westmacott Script. Herb. (1695) 8 The Fruit or Apples..are..coated and armed with many spicous Pricks. [1775 in Ash. Hence in later Dicts.] |
Hence ˈspicousness. rare—0.
| 1730 Bailey (fol.), Spicousness, a being spiked like Ears of Corn; also Fulness of Ears. |