spiculum

Meaning

Noun

• A thrusting javelin used by Romans that replaced the pilum in the late 3rd century.
• A sharp, pointed crystal, especially of ice.
• A sharp, needle-like structure, especially those making up the skeleton of a sponge.
• A small radial emission of gas seen in the chromosphere and corona of the sun.

Related

Similar words

• spicula
• spicule

Origin

• From Latin spīculum ("a little sharp point"), from spīcum, alternative form of spīca.