echinus Hear it!

echinus definition

echi·nus (ē kī′nəs)

noun pl. echini echi′·ni′ (-nī′)

  1. sea urchin
  2. Archit.
    1. molding under the abacus of the capital of a Doric column
    2. any of several similar moldings

Etymology: L < Gr echinos < IE *eĝhinos, of snakes < base *eĝhi-, snake

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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