spicousadj.
Botany ? Obsolete.
Spicate; spiky, pointed.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > part of plant > reproductive part(s) > flower or part containing reproductive organs > inflorescence or collective flower > [adjective] > having particular shape, type, or arrangement > of a spike
spiky1578
spicous1658
spicated1661
spicate1668
spicaceous1756
spiciform1836
1658 Sir T. Browne Garden of Cyrus iii, in Hydriotaphia: Urne-buriall 123 The seeds about the spicous head or torch of Tapsas Barbatus.
1694 W. Westmacott Θεολοβοτονολογια 8 The Fruit or Apples..are..coated and arm'd with many spicous Pricks.
1775 in J. Ash New Dict. Eng. Lang. Hence in later Dicts. ]
Derivatives
ˈspicousness n. rare Apparently only attested in dictionaries or glossaries.
ΚΠ
1730 N. Bailey et al. Dictionarium Britannicum Spicousness, a being spiked like Ears of Corn; also Fulness of Ears.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
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adj.1658