aculeus
nounUK /əˈkjuː.lɪ.əs/ · US /əˈkju.li.əs/
Etymology Borrowed from Latin aculeus.
1
Biology, Botany, Natural sciences A sharp spike or other projection growing on a plant, as in some brambles and roses.
- Many plants, like many animals, are furnished with arms for their protection; these are either aculei, prickles, as in rose and barberry, which are formed from the outer bark of the plant; or spinæ, thorns […].1789, Erasmus Darwin, The Loves of the Plants, J. Johnson, page 15:
2
A sting.
- Derived terms
- aculeate, subaculear