Spicule
/ˈspɪkjuːl/noun
A tiny sharp-pointed projection or needle-like structure, especially in biology or astronomy.
Did you know?*Spicule* comes from the same Latin family as *spike* and *spice*—a root tied to pointedness and sharpness long before it entered science.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*spei-
“to point, pierce, or be sharp”
Latin
Latin
spica
“an ear of grain; a pointed tip”
Late Latin
Latin
spiculum
“a small sharp point, dart, or javelin”
16th Century
English
spicule
“a small sharp point or little spike”
Modern English
English
spicule
“a minute needle-like projection or crystal”