The series of vertebrae forming the axis of the skeleton and protecting the spinal cord.

synonyms: back, backbone, rachis, spinal column, vertebral column.

Roget 861: courage, bravery, valor; resoluteness, boldness etc. adj.; spirit, daring, gallantry, intrepidity; contempt of danger, defiance of danger; derring-do; audacity; rashness etc. 863; dash; defiance etc. 715; confidence, self-reliance.    manliness, manhood; nerve, pluck, mettle, game; heart, heart of grace; spunk, guts, face, virtue, hardihood, fortitude, intestinal fortitude; firmness etc. (stability) 150; heart of oak; bottom, backbone, spine etc. (perseverance) 604.1. resolution etc. (determination) 604; bulldog courage.    prowess, heroism, chivalry.    exploit, feat, achievement; heroic deed, heroic act; bold stroke.    man, man of mettle; hero, demigod, Amazon, Hector; lion, tiger, panther, bulldog; gamecock, fighting-cock; bully, fire eater etc. 863.    ... show more

Dutch: ruggegraat, ruggengraat, ruggestreng, wervelkolom
Polish: kręgosłup, stos pacierzowy

Any sharply pointed projection.

synonyms: acantha, spur.

Roget 253: sharpness etc. adj.; acuity, acumination^†; spinosity^†.    point, spike, spine, spicule [Biol.], spiculum^†; needle, hypodermic needle, tack, nail, pin; prick, prickle; spur, rowel, barb; spit, cusp; horn, antler; snag; tag thorn, bristle; Adam's needle^†, bear grass [U.S.], tine, yucca.    nib, tooth, tusk; spoke, cog, ratchet.    crag, crest, arete [Fr.], cone peak, sugar loaf, pike, aiguille^†; spire, pyramid, steeple.    beard, chevaux de frise [Fr.], porcupine, hedgehog, brier, bramble, thistle; comb; awn, beggar's lice, bur, burr, catchweed^†, cleavers, clivers^†, goose, grass, hairif^†, hariff, flax comb, hackle, hatchel^†, heckle.    wedge; knife edge, cutting edge; blade, edge tool, cutlery, knife, penknife, whittle, razor, razor blade, safety razor, straight razor, electric razor; scalpel; bistoury^†, lancet; plowshare, coulter, colter^†; hatchet, ax, pickax, mattock, pick, adze, gill; billhook, cleaver, cutter; scythe, sickle; scissors, shears, pruning shears, cutters, wire cutters, nail clipper, paper cutter; sword etc. (arms) 727; bodkin etc. (perforator) 262; belduque^†, bowie knife^†, paring knife; bushwhacker [U.S.]; drawing knife, drawing shave; microtome [Micro.]; chisel, screwdriver blade; flint blade; guillotine.    sharpener, hone, strop; grindstone, whetstone; novaculite^†; steel, emery.    ... show more

A small sharp-pointed tip resembling a spike on a stem or leaf.

synonyms: pricker, prickle, spikelet, sticker, thorn.

Dutch: aartjes, dorentje, stekel, doorn, doren, prikkel
Polish: cierń

The part of a book's cover that encloses the inner side of the book's pages and that faces outward when the book is shelved:
— The title and author were printed on the spine of the book.

synonym: backbone.

Polish: grzbiet książki

A sharp rigid animal process or appendage; as a porcupine quill or a ridge on a bone or a ray of a fish fin.

Dutch: stekel, rug, ruggengraat, doorn
Polish: kolec