English
fourspine
From four + spine.
Proto-Indo-European *kʷetwṓr ‘four’
Proto-Germanic *fedwōr ‘four’
Proto-West Germanic *feuwar ‘four’
Old English fēower ‘four’
Middle English four
English four
Proto-Indo-European *spey- ‘sharp point’
Proto-Italic *speinā ‘thorn’
Latin spīna ‘thorn’
Old French espine
Middle English spyne ‘a spine’
English spine
Today it means
adj Having four spines; used in the names of species.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / fourspine