noun
Origin: Early ModE spynel < MFr spinelle < It spinella, dim. of spina, thorn, spine < L: see spine
See spinel in American Heritage Dictionary 4
also spi·nelle
nounOrigin:
Origin: Italian spinella
Origin: , diminutive of spina, thorn (from its sharply pointed crystals)
Origin: , from Latin spīna
.Learn more about spinel