The vertebral columns of animals or the sharp, pointed structures found on plants and animals for protection.
From Latin 'spina' meaning 'thorn' or 'backbone,' related to 'spica' (ear of grain, spike). The anatomical sense developed in the 14th century, while the botanical sense (thorns, prickles) maintained the original meaning. Both senses reflect the common idea of a pointed, protective structure.
The dual meaning of 'spine' for both backbones and thorns reveals how ancient peoples recognized the structural similarity between these protective features. Fascinatingly, the spine of a book gets its name from the backbone metaphor, as it holds the pages together like vertebrae support the body.
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