rachis

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: ra=chis

CIDE DICTIONARY

rachis, n. [NL., fr. Gr. "ra`chis, -ios.].

•  The spine; the vertebral column.  [1913 Webster]
•  Same as Rhachis.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

rachis, n. (pl. rachides)
1 Bot. a a stem of grass etc. bearing flower-stalks at short intervals. b the axis of a compound leaf or frond.
2 Anat. the vertebral column or the cord from which it develops.
3 Zool. a feather-shaft, esp. the part bearing the barbs.

Derivative

rachidial adj.

Etymology

mod.L f. Gk rhakhis spine: the E pl. -ides is erron.