Etymology Map
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Spine

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means the backbone

Where does the word "spine" come from? It comes from Latin spina, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
spina
Latin · ancient
"thorn, backbone"
the backbone was seen as a row of thorns
2
Stage 2 of 3
espine
Old French · medieval
"thorn"
the root of 'spinach', for its spiky seeds
3
Stage 3 of 3
spine
English · 1400s
"backbone"
'spineless' for cowardly dates from the 1800s
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Read the full story

Spine’s story begins in Latin: spina meant “thorn, backbone.” The backbone was seen as a row of thorns. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as espine. The root of 'spinach', for its spiky seeds. It reached English by 1400s as spine. 'spineless' for cowardly dates from the 1800s. Today, spine means the backbone.